Providing the best start for children through holistic healthcare
Dr. Kathlyn Marie Gizella Botin (left) of WVSUMC checks up on the daughter of Virgie
SM Foundation, the social good arm of the SM group, has made it its mission to make targeted social investments in health care to help underserved Filipinos improve their well-being.
For years, the foundation has upgraded over 170 health centers and public health facilities in the Philippines. This includes the pediatric ward of the West Visayas State University Medical Center (WVSUMC) in Iloilo City.
New stepdown NICU of West Visayas State University Medical Center (WVSUMC)
With many relying on the services of the ward, SM Foundation upgraded the WVSUMC’s step-down NICU, pediatric ward for non-infectious cases, treatment room, hallway, toilet, and hand washing areas.
SM Foundation installed a Mobile Play Cabinet to provide a child-friendly environment for the children.
To ensure a therapeutic environment that promotes healing, SMFI equipped the area with specialized medical appliances and devices, such as pediatric cribs, bassinets, treatment beds, nebulizers, gun thermometers, a mini refrigerator for vaccines, breastfeeding and divan chairs, office tables and chairs, beddings, pillows, TV, water dispenser, ceiling fans, and a Mobile Play Cabinet.
From delivery to postpartum care
One of the patients staying at WVSUMC Paediatric Ward was first time mother, Ednalyn Valdez.
“Sa ganitong ambiance at environment, nababawasan ang stress. Komportable ang mga upuan kung saan ako nagpapa-breastfeed. Hindi ko na kailangan lumakad pa ng malayo para mag-CR dahil mayroon na ditong malinis
na banyo. Hindi rin namin kailangan magdala ng mga unan. Ang mga cribs, very secured. Kaya’t napapanatag ang loob ko dahil tiyak ang kaligtasan ko, lalo na ng anak ko,” she said about the renovated ward.
The daughter of Ednalyn completes her medication.
Another mother staying in the new pediatric ward was Virgie Columna, a mother of a cancer patient. She and her
daughter first saw the ward in 2017.“Kahit laging nililinis, luma na talaga ang ward. Kailangan rin naming magdala ng mga unan at bedsheets noon, lalo na dahil nadudumi sa kama ang aking anak,” Vergie shared her previous experiences in the ward.
“Pag balik namin dito, nagulat kami dahil renovated na ang lahat. Komportable na at maaliwalas ang paligid. Noong nakita ng anak ko ang bagong ward, ikot siya ng ikot, magaan ang pakiramdam niya, at natuwa siya sa mga laruan,” she added pointing at the Mobile Play Cabinet.
SMFI equips the WVSUMC with hospital beds, pediatric cribs, breastfeeding chairs, and consultation areas.
For her, the renovation of the pediatric ward was a blessing. With its refreshed look and new child-friendly facilities, her daughter gets to recover in an environment that gives her a more positive outlook about hospitals, uplifts her mood, and supplements their healing journey–one that lightens the heart.
