The opening of a dialysis center at the Rural Health Unit (RHU) in the municipality of Conner in Apayao province is easing the burden of patients, now spared from traveling to the Cagayan Valley region for their regular treatment sessions.

“This is the government being brought closer to the people in distant communities, especially those who need specialized services that are mostly in cities,” said Dr. Ferdinand Benbenen, director of the Department of Health (DOH) – Cordillera in a message sent to the Philippine News Agency on Tuesday.

The new dialysis center at the Conner District Hospital was launched on May 29 but it officially opened its doors to the public on June 16. It has 15 dialysis machines managed by trained personnel who are serving patients from Conner and neighboring municipalities.

Before the center’s opening, patients had to go to either Tuguegarao City or Tabuk City in Kalinga for dialysis sessions, both located several hours away from Conner.

The Conner center is the third dialysis facility in Apayao funded under the DOH’s Hospital Facility Enhancement Program, which includes essential services, medical equipment, and personnel. (PNA)