By Emme Rose Santiagudo
The West Visayas Sanitarium in Sta. Barbara town in Iloilo is being eyed by authorities as an isolation facility for possible cases of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Panay Island and the province of Guimaras.
During the Regional Disaster Risk and Reduction Management Council Meeting (RDRMMC)-6 meeting recently, Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Treñas identified the West Visayas Sanitarium to be the hospital facility for possible COVID-19 cases.
“I proposed na we should identify one hospital for Covid-19 cases para kabalo na kita kon diin naton dal-on ang mga pasyente because while we have hospitals in the city daw indi maayo nga ilapta ta lang,” he said in previous interviews.
The mayor said the location of the West Visayas Sanitarium is ideal since it is less populated and away from the city.
“We identified the Sanitarium in Sta. Barbara kay isolated kag pwede naton mausar then we will be able to accommodate patients for the whole Panay and Guimaras,” he said.
But is the Sanitarium ready and capable for COVID-19 cases?
According to Health and Education Promotion Officer of West Visayas Sanitarium Julie Ann Golez, the Sanitarium is a Level I hospital meaning it can only handle mild and moderate cases.
“We are a Level I hospital meaning we cater to patients with mild and moderate cases. Although, we are supposedly moving towards becoming a Level II hospital,” she said.
Golez said the hospital has a 50-bed capacity with a total of 500 medical health workers including administrative and janitorial personnel.
The hospital also lacks equipment needed to accommodate severe cases of patients like an Intensive Care Unit.
At the moment, Golez said they have been catering to patients under investigation (PUI) for COVID-19 but those only with mild cases.
“We are accepting PUIs but those with mild to moderate cases only. Some of them were discharged already,” she said.
A multi-stakeholder meeting was organized to discuss the plans of identifying the West Visayas Sanitarium as an isolation facility for Covid-19 cases.
The Department of Health (DOH) 6 has yet to confirm the final decision for the said hospital.
In the region, the health department has previously identified West Visayas Medical Center in Iloilo City, Corazon Locsin Montelibano Memorial Regional Hospital in Bacolod City, including the West Visayas Sanitarium as hospital facilities that can cater to severe cases of COVID-19.
