SAN FRANCISCO, CEBU — The first and only hemodialysis center in the Camotes Group of Islands has been inaugurated here Monday, March 18.
Gov. Gwen Garcia, with the four mayors of Camotes and district Board Members, led the ribbon-cutting ceremony to formally open the ten-unit hemodialysis center at the Capitol-run Ricardo L. Maningo Memorial Hospital.
The Department of Health (DOH), on the same day, issued a license to operate the dialysis center which shall now spare renal patients from Camotes the physically taxing and financially demanding trip to mainland Cebu for their prompt dialysis treatment.
“Up and running na gyod ang atong dialysis center, labi na kay duna na sab tay nephrologist,” Gov. Garcia said in her speech. A nephrologist is a medical doctor who specializes in kidney care and treating diseases of the kidneys.
As in previous arrangements, the Camotes dialysis center is in partnership with Medtronix Medical Supplies and Equipment.
It is now the fourth Capitol-run hospital where a dialysis center is established, after the opening of dialysis centers in the Provincial Hospitals in Balamban with 10 dialysis units; and 15 dialysis units for each Provincial Hospitals in Danao City and Carcar City.
As of today, these four Capitol-run dialysis centers have an aggregate 50 dialysis machines, with more to come, as the Capitol is set to open this week the dialysis center in Bantayan Island and the assignment of additional dialysis machines for Balamban.
As early as today, moreover, Gov. Gwen already has her eyes set on the Provincial Hospital in Bogo City where the next dialysis center is to be placed.
“We would like to thank (DOH) regional director Jimmy Bernadas for feeling with us, sympathizing with us, sa atong mga dialysis patients that have to traverse gikan diris isla, dako kaayong gasto molabang pa aron makaabot pagpalista didtos Danao nga wait-listed pod sila. So karon, mapa-arang-arang na nato ang ilang kahimtang,” Gov. Garcia said in an interview by Sugbo News.
3-STOREY, 150-BED CAPACITY HOSPITAL BUILDING
Under DOH classifications, the Camotes hospital has an infirmary status, just below Level 1, for it is only licensed to operate as a 25-bed facility.
However, the governor is well aware that since this is the only hospital in Camotes, it naturally accommodates beyond its limit, going even near the 100-patient capacity at any given time.
And so Gov. Garcia, as part of her bid to bring the hospital to a Level 1 accreditation status with DOH, announced that the Provincial Government shall build a 3-storey building there that shall add 150 beds to its current service capacity.
The Provincial Engineering Office has already presented sketch plans for the edifice which will utilize existing lots at the hospital.
“We will not stop. Nahibaw ko, di man gyod ni nato matubag ang tanan nga panginahanglan, but rest assured, we are doing the best that we can, as much as we can, because the people expect nothing less,” Gov. Garcia said.
Joining the Governor here are Board Members Mike Villamor, Red Duterte, and Stanley Caminero; as well as Pilar Mayor Manuel Santiago; San Francisco Mayor Al Arquillano Jr.; Tudela Mayor Jojo Solante; and Poro Mayor Gary Rama.
Regional Vice President for PhilHealth Marjorie Cabrieto and the chief of hospital Dr. Rene Macario Borromeo are also around for the historic event. | IPA