The blessing and turn over rites of the Dr. Pablo O. Torre Emergency Clinic and Birthing Home by the Riverside College to Sagay City government was capped yesterday by the birth of baby boy Pablo Alfredo Octavio.

The baby, prematurely delivered by Anabelle Octavio of Minapasok, Calatrava after 33 weeks of pregnancy, weighed 1.2 pounds and was put on a breathing apparatus.

Baby Pablo became part of the history of the emergency clinic and birthing home constructed with funds from the Riverside College .

Dr. Hector Torre of the Riverside Medical Center Inc. said the facility cost around P7 million and equipment estimated to cost P 3million were also donated to it.

The donation to Sagay is the realization of the dream of Riverside College 's founder Dr. Pablo O. Torre of providing quality healthcare to the people of Negros , Hector Torre said.

He added that the clinic will be manned by the Sagay City Health personnel and students from Riverside College will be sent there to complete their course requirements.

Although the facility can only accommodate normal delivery right now, Torre said possibilities for expansion are being considered with support from the provincial government of Negros Occidental.

The emergency clinic and birthing home has six beds and two labor rooms with provision for patients' overflow, he added.

Meanwhile, Sagay City Mayor Alfredo Marañon reminded City Health Officer Dr. Manuel Bernales to take good care of the facility and the equipment, to make it efficient and to ensure that patients get good service.

Elsa Streegan of Riverside College said the facility will serve not only as a healing center but also a learning facility for their nursing students.*NAB

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