Some 100 nurses from Manila are expected to augment the medical workforce of the Southern Philippines Medical Center (SPMC) and private hospitals in Davao City following an overwhelming number of COVID-19 patients in the city, a health official said.
Davao City Health Office (CHO) acting head Dr. Ashely Lopez, during the COVID-19 Alert program on Davao City Disaster Radio, disclosed that additional nurses will be provided by the national government to augment hospitals with overwhelming COVID-19 patients, especially private hospitals with limited resources.
“Ang DOH, Department of Health is expressing their support by providing I think 100 more nurses coming from Manila from the national government to augment sa SPMC and private hospitals kay para matabangan pud tong mga gamay ng hospital, aron madungagan ilang human resources sama sa mga nurses kay mao nay hinungdan nga dili sila ka-allocate og higdaanan para sa atong COVID-19 patients kay kulang silag nurses” Lopez said.
Dr. Lopez, who is also the city’s COVID-19 focal person, said that they are also trying to figure out measures on how to expand COVID beds in SPMC and encourage private hospitals to allocate more beds for COVID-19 patients.
“For the past three days, halos puno-puno ang occupancy rate sa SPMC bahin aning COVID-19 patients nato. So, kung mapuno na syag husto magsigeg kapuno, daghang mga pasyente ang mapundo sa balay. Ilabina atong mga masakiton, mga moderate, severe, critical cases nga dili pwede dal-on sa mga TTMF ug mga hotels didto gyud na sila padulong sa SPMC. So, kung daghan ta’g mga pasyente nga mapundo sa balay dako ang tyansa nga ma-continue gihapon ning ilang pagtakod sa ilang infection sa uban. That is why we’re trying to figure out measures or solutions on how to expand our COVID beds sa SPMC and encourage more allocations from our private” Lopez said.
Aside from the medical workforce, the national health department has also vowed to lend 10 ventilators for SPMC, along with the regular allocation of personal protective equipment or PPEs.
“Magpahulam daw ang DOH og mga napulo ka ventilators for SPMC kay para madungagan ang atong ICU capacity for SPMC and regular allocation sa atong protective equipment or PPEs” Lopez added. (City Information Office | Michael Manguhig, RPN DXKT Davao OIC)