In a significant boost to healthcare accessibility, the remote town of Maslog in Eastern Samar has been equipped with its first river ambulance. The Department of Health (DOH) handed over the vessel on January 8, 2025, aiming to expedite the transfer of patients from isolated areas to the nearest medical facilities. The river ambulance, a critical asset for the community, is outfitted with essential medical equipment including a stretcher, an automatic external defibrillator, a nebulizer, portable suction machines, and an oxygen cylinder, among other supplies. This initiative is expected to significantly improve emergency medical response times in the region. Maslog, known for its sparse population and challenging access, typically requires a four-hour riverboat journey to reach the highway in Dolores town, followed by a two-hour drive to the Eastern Samar Provincial Hospital in Borongan City. Alongside the ambulance, the DOH also distributed senior citizen kits and various assistive devices to further support the community’s health needs. The turnover ceremony was attended by key local figures including Vice Mayor Septemio Santiago, municipal health officer Mennie Cabacang, and members of the municipal council and rural health unit. Efforts are also underway to improve road connectivity in the area, with several projects linking Maslog’s villages to national roads in nearby Jipapad and Dolores.
