Inside the Datu Halun Sakilan Memorial Hospital in Bongao, Tawi-Tawi, on April 14. The newly established Hemodialysis Center is expected to significantly ease the burden on dialysis patients in the province. (Dr. Sangkula Laja)
BONGAO, Tawi-Tawi – The Ministry of Health (MOH) has officially granted the License to Operate (LTO) to the first Hemodialysis Center in the island provinces of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), marking a historic milestone for the region’s healthcare services.
The Datu Halun Sakilan Memorial Hospital in Bongao, Tawi-Tawi was granted permission to operate its Hemodialysis Clinic beginning April 14, 2025.
Preparations for the establishment of the center began nearly a year ago. A ceremonial ribbon cutting was held on November 16, 2024, followed by an accreditation evaluation conducted by the MOH Regulation, Licensing, and Enforcement Division on November 27, 2024.
The center is a proud accomplishment of the Integrated Provincial Health Office (IPHO) of Tawi-Tawi under the Ministry of Health, in collaboration with the Provincial Government of Tawi-Tawi. With the increasing number of dialysis patients in the province, most of whom previously had to travel to Zamboanga City for treatment, the new facility is expected to significantly ease their burden.
Dr. Sangkula Laja, Provincial Health Officer II of IPHO Tawi-Tawi, led the initiative under the stewardship of MOH Minister Dr. Kadil “Jojo” Sinolinding Jr., with the strong support of Governor Yshmael “Mang” I. Sali and the newly appointed Chief Minister, Abduraof Macacua.
“We express our great and heartfelt gratitude to our beloved Chief Minister Abduraof Macacua, Minister Dr. Kadil Doc Jo Sinolinding, Doc Ehsan Paudac and his staff, and most of all to Gov. Mang Sali for the support in making the dreams of the poor patients come true,” Dr. Laja expressed in a Facebook post on April 24.
To prepare for operations, nurses and technicians were sent to Basilan Medical Center for refresher training. The center is set to begin full operation within the month.
The facility is currently equipped with seven dialysis machines-three donated by Governor Sali and four from the Ministry of Health. Dr. Sinolinding personally added three of those machines to strengthen the capacity of the clinic.
The opening of the Hemodialysis Center in Tawi-Tawi is a testament to BARMM’s continuing commitment to bring quality, accessible healthcare to underserved areas and improve the lives of the Bangsamoro people. (Laila Aripin/BIO)
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