N. Cotabato receives dental bus from DOH

North Cotabato’s Integrated Provincial Health Office (IPHO) recently acquired a brand new dental bus courtesy of the Department of Health (DOH). 
The mobile dental facility is intended for the provincial government’s outreach program.
Jessie Enid, provincial focal Person for legal matters and health, said the ceremonial turnover was took place in Manila on January 23.
The provincial government’s “Serbisyong Totoo” advocacy delivers much-needed services, including health missions, to its constituents, even those in most remote communities, Enid said. 
“The dental bus is a kind of reward the province received from DOH because of our diligent performance in providing health services to the constituents particularly the series of dental outreach programs we are conducting,” he said.
IPHO officer-in-charge Dr. Eva Rabaya and DOH 12 Assistant Regional Director Dr. Francisco Mateo received the vehicle from DOH officials. 
“This vehicle will spell the difference in delivering dental services to the villagers where the activity (dental missions) is usually conducted in barangay halls, multi-purpose buildings or in some open spaces,” Enid said.
The air-conditioned dental bus is equipped with two dental beds, basin, compartments for medical equipment, and medicines.
At the turnover ceremony, Dr. Rabaya lauded the efforts of the efforts of the provincial government to institutionalize its medical-dental outreach missions. 
She said in 2015, close to 80,000 individuals were served in the medical-dental missions that offered free services such as checkup, tooth extraction, circumcision, medicines and vitamins. 
Governor Emmylou J. Taliño-Mendoza thanked DOH for donating the bus which she said is very useful in implementing the health programs of the provincial government. 
“We are committed to give prompt and ingenuous social health services to the constituents. This vehicle will strengthen more our dedication to serve especially the poor,” Taliño-Mendoza said as she assured DOH officials that it will be used for its intended purpose. (JSta. Cruz-Cotabato PGO Media Center/DEDoguiles-PIA 12)