The San Carlos City Hospital in Negros Occidental is promoting accessible and holistic healthcare through the establishment of the first government hospital wellness center in the Negros Island Region (NIR).
The facility, which features a patient and staff wellness center, pediatric playground, and therapeutic Zen and meditation garden, was inaugurated in a ceremony led by Mayor Renato Gustilo and attended by officials of the Provincial Health Office and the Department of Health (DOH) on Feb. 21.
Located adjacent to the hospital building, it is designed to support recovery and mental well-being, and to provide a nurturing environment for both patients and healthcare workers.
In an interview on Monday, DOH-NIR Assistant Regional Director Adrian Hort Ramos, who witnessed the opening activity with Health Undersecretary Mary Ann Palermo-Maestral, lauded the initiative as a “best practice” of the local government unit (LGU)-run hospital in northern Negros.
“We are happy with this development. They are the first in the region to have an area like this in a government hospital. It’s not only therapeutic healing, but also a holistic healing for admitted children and adults,” he said.
Maestral said the inclusion of a pediatric playground helps support children’s recovery and provides a calming environment that uplifts patients and their families, as she also commended the LGU and the hospital leadership and staff for their commitment to accessible healthcare and improved health outcomes.
“A simple yet meaningful addition that promotes healing and a more comforting environment for patients and their families,” Gustilo said.
The mayor pledged additional funds for the operations and the procurement of more equipment for the city hospital.
He also presented a 3D perspective of the proposed San Carlos City Medical Center and hoped that the national government, through the DOH, would allocate more resources to realize the vision of quality, accessible, and universal healthcare not only for its residents, but also for those from the neighboring towns and cities. (PNA)