ILOILO City – Various medical societies here believe it is not a good idea to bring to the Western Visayas Medical Center (WVMC) in Mandurriao district all of Region 6’s coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases. The risk of the virus spreading is great, they warned.
WVMC has been designated by the Department of Health (DOH) Region 6 as the dedicated regional facility for COVID-19 cases.
In a “very urgent appeal”, the medical societies urged DOH-6 to reconsider the transfer plan.
As of this writing, Region 6 has 13 COVID-19 cases spread out in Bacolod City, Iloilo City, Capiz, Iloilo province, and Aklan.
It would be wiser if other provinces in the region – Antique, Aklan, Capiz, Guimaras, Negros Occidental – identify their respective COVID-19-dedicated health facility, too, the societies stressed.
A surge in COVID-19 cases could strain the healthcare system of this city and Iloilo province, they warned.
The medical societies urged DOH-6 to instead:
* 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.
Iloilo province share five borders with Capiz and Antique provinces. These are in the following:
* Barangay Poblacion, San Rafael (boundary with Dumarao, Capiz)
* Barangay Aglalana, Passi City (boundary with Dumarao, Capiz)
* Barangay Malitbog Centro, Calinog (boundary with Tapaz, Capiz)
* barangays To-og and Sinogbuan in San Joaquin (boundary with Antique)
* Barangay Kinalkalan, Balasan (boundary with Pilar, Capiz)
“The unimpeded transmission of the disease process through (lax) border control and the inordinate mixing of COVID-19 and non-COVID patient shall not only lead to unnecessary morbidity and mortality in the general population, but also to the insurmountable strain on the most significant resource needed to combat this problem – the hospitals and the healthcare workers,” read part of the medical societies’ joint letter addressed to the provincial and city governments of Iloilo and DOH-6.
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 assured DOH-6 they were ready to lend a helping hand because “this is a fight for our very own survival. Everyone must be involved if we are to prevent the spread of this disease.”
The letter was signed by the following:
* for the Iloilo Medical Society – Dr. Jesus Eugenio Garin de Jesus, president
* for the Philippine College of Surgeons Panay Chapter – Dr. Roy Joseph Trinidad, president
* for the Philippine Society of General Surgeons Panay Chapter – Dr. Carol Joy Quimpo, president
* for the Philippine College of Physicians Western Visayas Chapter – Dr. Shella Mae Sonza, president
* for the Philippine Society of Anesthesiologists Iloilo Panay Chapter – Dr. Maria Soccoro Felisarta, president
* for the Philippine Pediatric Society Western Visayas Chapter – Dr. Joselito Caso, president
* for the Philippine Obstetrics and Gynecologic Society – Dr. Nora Gepulle, president
They previously suggested the Western Visayas Sanitarium (WVS) in Santa Barbara, Iloilo as possible COVID-19-dedicated health facility for Iloilo (relatively isolated in location, but geographically accessible).
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
I work in a hospital(UM) in Michigan dealing w/ the surge of COVID19 patients.We have a dedicated units and areas in the hospital for these type of patients.From ED areas of low/ moderate COVID 19 patient ,and isolation room for severe/vent patients.Units of the hospital was designated presumptive/low severity COVID 19 patients .Moderate to Severe COVID 19 patients have a designated unit which handle vent patients(Regional Isolation Containment Unit).We are trying to prevent too much patient movement and have dedicated staff,minimize contact patients,no visitors at all except pediatric cases(2 max) and ,no more than 2 visitors for critical cases or end of life care.Entry log of visitor/staff in each patient room,easy to trace for exposure people for COVID 19 exposure.The 2 big hospital system in Michigan is nearing capacity w/ COVID 19 patients and almost exhausted w/ ventilators.My hospital I’m working could handle 400 ventilators,pharmacy making sanitizers,asking donation for PPE supplies especially n95 masks,we are saving n95 usage and eye shields by,collaborating w/ business to do PPE supplies manufacture .The data here is not good,the pandemic might go till May or early June.Americans have no patience they think the virus will go away in 2 weeks…Stay safe and be safe.
Thanks for sharing. Stay safe. Godspeed!