The city government here has acquired various medical equipment for the operation of the Bacolod City Respiratory Referral Center (BCRRC), a temporary coronavirus disease (Covid-19) facility hosted by the Bacolod Queen of Mercy Hospital.
Mayor Evelio Leonardia said on Thursday the acquisition will increase the bed capacity for indigent patients with mild to moderate symptoms.
“This is truly a blessing for our people, coming at a time when more people are testing positive for the virus,” he added.
The equipment purchased included 17 hospital beds, two stretchers, two wheelchairs, a mobile X-ray machine, an electrocardiogram (ECG) machine with standard accessories, a defibrillator, a video laryngoscope, an autoclave, 10 hand-held thermal scanners, 10 units of adult and two units of pediatric blood pressure (BP) apparatus.
“We are truly grateful to Dr. Evangeline Johnson and the rest of the board and management of the Bacolod Queen of Mercy Hospital for this partnership with the city,” Leonardia said.
The City Council earlier passed a resolution ratifying the deed of usufruct between the city government and the Bacolod Queen of Mercy Hospital for the use of the above equipment at the BCRRC.
The contract, signed by Leonardia and hospital president Dr. Lucho Giovanni Giron, stated that the equipment will continue to be owned by the city and shall be made available for the free use of the hospital.
For the duration of the arrangement, the city will also provide consumable supplies such as personal protective equipment and testing kits.
Under the agreement, the Bacolod Queen of Mercy Hospital will dedicate its 34-room south wing to become the referral center.
The hospital will provide the medical, nursing, utility, and administrative staff for the BCRRC while the city government will deploy 10 registered nurses to work the third shift every 14 days.
Meanwhile, the city government is also drafting a memorandum of agreement (MOA) with the Department of Public Works and Highways for the construction of two sets of quarantine facilities worth a total of PHP25 million or PHP12.5 million per set.
These will supplement the bed capacity for indigent Covid-19 positive patients who do not need hospital care so that hospitals will have more room to accommodate the critically-ill patients.
Each set will be a one-story container van-type of structure with 16 isolation rooms, each with its own comfort room. It will also come with a nurses’ station, a utility room, and quarters for medical personnel on duty. (Nanette Guadalquiver NDB via PNA, photo by PNA)