THE city government of Manila on Monday turned over 300 units of medical and office equipment to 44 health centers in the city.
Mayor Isko Moreno led the distribution of 100 electrocardiograph (ECG) machines, 100 laptops and 100 printers, saying the acquisition was prompted by his past visits to health centers where he observed outdated and worn-out equipment, including ECG machines held together with tape.
“At least you now have extra, two for each health center. There are 44 (health centers). You get to keep a few in case something breaks, because the acquisition will take a long time,” Moreno said.
He added that some health centers were still using outdated computer systems that slowed down operations, prompting the city to provide 100 laptops and 100 printers.
“I saw that some of the computers used were still in MS-DOS (software). So we are going to deliver laptops and printers to improve operations,” he added.
Moreno told the health workers that the rollout of new equipment addressed their requests as part of the city government’s commitment to prioritizing health care under its Minimum Basic Needs (MBN) framework, which focuses on housing, education, health care and jobs as the foundation of public spending. “If we succeed in addressing these basic needs, the quality of life for Manileños will improve. The rest, like beautification projects, are secondary. Our main investment is in the people,” Moreno said.
