Iloilo city: The Department of Health Western Visayas Center for Health Development (DOH-6) is urging residents of Iloilo, known as Ilonggos, to utilize the free primary health care services available at its newly opened wellness clinic located within SM City Iloilo.

According to Philippines News Agency, OIC-Assistant Regional Director Mary Pauline Gestosani highlighted that the clinic presents an alternative means of delivering primary healthcare, making it more accessible by situating it in a mall where people frequently visit for various needs. Gestosani emphasized that the strategic location aligns with the efforts of other government agencies to offer essential services in convenient locations like shopping centers.

The wellness clinic focuses on providing nonurgent ambulatory health care services. It emphasizes immunization, nutrition, wellness, and other health promotion and disease prevention programs. The array of basic services offered includes reproductive health, general preventive care, consultations for common health concerns, and maternal health services. Moreover, the clinic offers screening, curative and rehabilitative care, and traditional and alternative medicines, all at no cost to the patients.

Dr. Feman Rene Autajay, the focal person for the program, mentioned that the clinic is projected to serve approximately 600 clients monthly. He noted that the region has the highest number of patients accessing services from the wellness clinic. The clinic's operational hours are aligned with the mall's opening times, Monday through Friday, catering to workers who might drop by after work hours. An additional team, consisting of a doctor, nurse, midwife, medical technologist, and administrative assistant, may be deployed to facilitate weekend operations.

Autajay also disclosed that Sundays will be dedicated to health promotion activities, enhancing community engagement in health awareness. Furthermore, the clinic provides essential maintenance medicines for patients managing chronic conditions such as hypertension and diabetes, bolstering its role in comprehensive community health care.