Sto. Niño COVID care unit target opening Apr. 14

It’s all systems go for the revival and conversion of the Sto. Niño Hospital at P. Burgos barangay into a critical care facility for Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) patients which is targeted for operationalization on April 14.

Mayor Benjie Magalong and City Administrator Bonifacio Dela Peña said preparations for the building, facilities, manpower and other aspects went full blast after they with the help of Dr. Willy Occidental managed to convince the owners of the long dormant hospital and the barangay officials and residents of the urgency and necessity of using it to have a dedicated facility for COVID patients to contain the spread of the virus that has infected at least 13 persons in the city as of March 29.

The team preparing the center led by the St. Louis University Hospital of the Sacred Heart headed by Medical Director Dr. Paul Adlai B. Quitiquit had inspected the building and decided that the city needs three weeks to repurpose the building being used as a school.  

“Our preparations on services, equipment, manpower and other logistics are also ongoing. We are currently finalizing our draft proposal to the city for the operation of the new center,” Quitiquit told the mayor March 27.

He will also submit recommendations to facilitate the application for the facility’s license to operate as a specialty hospital with the assistance of the Dept. of Health.

The mayor said he wants a third party to certify that the facility passed the standards before the first patient can be brought in.

The facility which ceased operations in 2009 has a 36-bed capacity.

In a dialogue held March 27, the mayor assured that the city will undertake all measures to secure the area to prevent contamination in the community.

The mayor thanked the benevolent owners and the community for understanding the plight of the patients and residents and city government for pursuing said option.

 

The exclusive critical care unit will enable the city to segregate COVID patients from non-COVID patients and free the Baguio General Hospital and Medical Center and other hospitals from contamination risks.

 

Doctors and experts on infectious diseases had assured that the facility will be protected and contained to avoid danger to the community.

Dela Peña said the city will install proper solid and liquid waste disposal, fire prevention, sewer, electrical, plumbing and security systems in the building.

For these requirements including the various carpentry and repair works, the city continued to receive help from private individuals and companies who volunteered their services and equipment for free among whom Roland Gapuz, Benguet Electric Cooperative Inc.,Jerco Hardware, Davies and Boysen paints.

Medical and housekeeping facilities and manpower will again be pooled from the various hospitals, DOH and the city government. – Aileen P. Refuerzo

Facebook Comments Box