DOH6 to launch 1st mall-based clinic in PH

• Source:https://pia.gov.ph/news/articles/1022368
• Thursday, May 23, 2019

By Leonard T. Pineda, I (JBG/LTP/PIA-Iloilo)

ILOILO CITY, May 23 (PIA) -- The Department of Health - Center for Health Development (DOH-CHD) 6 is set to launch on May 28, 2019 at Robinsons Place Iloilo the country’s first mall-based clinic that will provide preventive and promotive health care.

In a press conference held recently at the Eon Centennial Hotel here, Joseph Carlo Carillo, DOH-6 Nurse V, said that the facility aims to serve the unmet health needs of clients by improving access to health services.

“This is part of the commitment of DOH to ensure access and availability of our services. Our clients are provided these services at the most convenient time for them,” he said.

Dubbed as “kNOwTell,” the clinic aims to ensure that the reach of health information is expanded through health information sharing or “what you KNOW you TELL,” while keeping private information confidential or “No Tell.”

“However, it will not bear the word ‘clinic’ to remove the barrier to health access,” he said, adding that "a person does not need to be sick" to access and avail services of a health facility.

He said that kNOwTell is a venue for health education and counseling in order to be healthy and to stay healthy.

The mall-based health facility will be open from Monday to Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. and weekends from 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.

Services that will be offered include pregnancy testing; pre-natal check-up (to include physical check-up, vitamins and pregnancy counseling); Family Planning (FP) services (short or long acting FP commodities); and HIV screening, counseling, and testing.

Likewise, clients can also avail psycho-social risk assessment, counseling (to include psychometrician services and referral); “Brief Advise” 5 (counseling on tobacco, alcohol and drugs); and screening, counseling, and referral for chest X-ray.

According to Carillo, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays will be considered “Teen Days” as there will be special services and workshops that will be conducted targeting this particular age group.

The facility will be situated in the 3rd floor of Robinsons Place Iloilo, beside Fun Time.