THE newly renovated and refurbished barangay health center in Lagao, General Santos City was turned over by SM Foundation in partnership with Mahintana Foundation to the local government of the city led by Mayor Darlene Magnolia Antonino-Custodio. This is the first Wellness Center renovated and refurbished in the Mindanao area.

The renovation of the health center through which took about two months to complete was worth the wait. What was once an ill-equipped and cramped health center serving daily the medical and dental needs of the barangay has been transformed into a spacious and well-equipped center painted in cheerful colors.

The newly renovated wellness center has a modern reception and triage area, consultation and treatment room and rural health midwife room, an air-conditioned delivery / labor room with two hospital beds equipped with intravenous stands, an emergency dressing cart, and a delivery bed to provide safe birth giving. Two cribs for newborn babies, a dental room complete with facilities and upgraded toilet facilities are also provided.

There is a Center for the Elderly where seniors can relax and enjoy each other’s company as well as a Center for Children filled with toys and books for use of children of the barangay.

A medical mission was conducted simultaneously with the inauguration Volunteer barangay health workers, student nurses, doctors and dentists from the LGU attended to 900 patients.

Among those present. during the inauguration and turnover ceremonies aside from General Santos City Mayor Darlene Magnolia Antonino-Custodio were SM Foundation Inc. Executive Director for Health and Medical Programs Connie S. Angeles; Mahintana Foundation Inc. Finance Manager Liza Hora; SM City General Santos Asst. Mall Manager Hermon L. Hernandez; General Santos City Integrated Health Services Office Chief Edgardo Sandig and Barangay Lagao Captain, Rolito R. Blando. They were joined by General Santos City councilors, barangay health workers, and health services office staff.