First DS Hub in the Philippines officially handed over

On the 14th of July, the first Developmental Care and Support Services Hub, or DS Hub, was officially handed over in Legazpi City, Albay. The hub is located at the Bicol Regional Hospital and Medical Center (BRHMC) and gives children with Down syndrome and other disabilities access to specialised care, guidance and support.

The turning over took place during a festive ceremony on the hospital grounds. Among those present were representatives of local and regional government, the Department of Health, the hospital, NORFIL Foundation, Liliane Fonds, local partner organisations, children with Down syndrome and their parents.

A place where children are seen and supported

The DS Hub has been set up as a multidisciplinary centre where children and their families can receive care, advice and support. The hub aims to contribute to early identification, better guidance and appropriate care for children with Down syndrome and other disabilities. Its opening is therefore an important step towards more inclusive healthcare in the Philippines.

The hub was made possible through collaboration between NORFIL Foundation, the Bicol Regional Hospital and Medical Center, Paul Foundation and Liliane Fonds.

During the ceremony, the mobile facility was also formally handed over by NORFIL Foundation and Liliane Fonds to the hospital, and the centre’s official name was unveiled: DS Hub: Developmental Care and Support Services HUB.

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Hope and confidence

Several speakers emphasised the importance of care, collaboration and equal opportunities for children with disabilities. The mother of a child with Down syndrome, Ms Adelada Jasareno, spoke directly to other parents of children with disabilities: “Do not lose hope. Children do not have limitations. The only limitation is how you welcome and love them.”

Dr Eric Raborar, Medical Center Chief of the hospital described the opening as the result of a shared vision: “Every meaningful achievement begins as a vision in someone’s heart. With our limited resources, we are grateful to be the recipient of this hub.”

Former Secretary of Health Dr Jaime Galvez Tan also underlined the importance of inclusive care: “Every child deserves to live life to the fullest. We must reach the last, the lost and the least.”

Collaboration as the basis for sustainable change

The opening of the DS Hub shows what sustainable collaboration can mean for children with disabilities and their families. As was said during the ceremony, true sustainability comes from genuine partnerships, not from a one-off event.

A first step with great meaning

The DS Hub in Albay is the first of its kind in the Philippines. For children with Down syndrome and other disabilities, and for their parents, it means a place where they are seen, heard and supported. The opening marks not only the start of a new service, but also a shared promise: that every child deserves the opportunity to develop as fully as possible.