ILOILO City – Not all coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases in Western Visayas would be lumped at the Western Visayas Medical Center (WVMC) in Mandurriao district, the Department of Health (DOH) assured various medical societies here.
WVMC has been designated as regional COVID-19 dedicated hospital.
But according to Dr. Mary Jane Juanico, focal person for COVID-19 of DOH Region 6, WVMC’s acceptance of COVID-19 cases from other provinces would be on a “case to case basis.”
Medical societies warned that the transfer to WVMC of all COVID-19 cases from various parts of the region could further spread the virus causing it.
“Not all cases,” Juanico assured the medical societies.
So why designate WVMC as regional COVID-19 dedicated hospital?
According to Juanico, WVMC is the only Level 3 hospital in Panay and Guimaras islands which means it has far better facilities.
The medical societies had argued it would be wiser if other provinces in the region – Antique, Aklan, Capiz, Guimaras, Negros Occidental – identify their respective COVID-19-dedicated health facility.
A surge in COVID-19 cases could strain the healthcare system of this city and Iloilo province, they warned.
As of this writing, Region 6 has 16 COVID-19 cases spread out in Bacolod City, Iloilo City, Capiz, Iloilo province, and Aklan.
Juanico said government hospitals in other provinces or cities in the region lacked the facilities to make them capable of handling COVID-19 patients with severe symptoms.
The medical societies urged DOH-6 to:
* capacitate provincial hospitals so they will not have to refer their patients to WVMC
* provide frontliners and healthcare workers with personal protective equipment
* prohibit COVID-19 patients from being admitted in a nonCOVID-19 dedicated hospital whether private or government (and impose this rule regardless of the patient’s financial status or standing in society)
* use COVID-19 test kits prudently and ensure that only those who fit the criteria are tested
The doctors also urged the provincial government of Iloilo to strictly enforce “border control” and observe “stringent infection measures” to contain the spread of COVID-19.
They also suggested that all persons under investigation – those who show symptoms of COVID-19 but not yet tested or still waiting for the results of their test – be considered as positive cases already so that immediate contact tracing could be done and so that these contacts could be isolated.
The medical societies that expressed concern were the Iloilo Medical Society, Philippine College of Surgeons Panay Chapter, Philippine Society of General Surgeons Panay Chapter, Philippine College of Physicians Western Visayas Chapter, Philippine Society of Anesthesiologists Iloilo Panay Chapter, Philippine Pediatric Society Western Visayas Chapter, and Philippine Obstetrics and Gynecologic Society.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the most common symptoms of COVID-19 are fever, tiredness, and dry cough. Some patients may have aches and pains, nasal congestion, runny nose, sore throat or diarrhea.
These symptoms are usually mild and begin gradually. Some people become infected but don’t develop any symptoms and don’t feel unwell.
Most people (about 80 percent) recover from the disease without needing special treatment, according to WHO. Around one out of every six people who gets COVID-19 becomes seriously ill and develops difficulty breathing.
Older people, and those with underlying medical problems like high blood pressure, heart problems or diabetes, are more likely to develop serious illness./PN
