BACOLOD City – City Administrator Em Ang said the opening of the Bacolod Queen of Mercy Hospital (BQMH) Bio-Molecular Diagnostic Laboratory on Tuesday is very beneficial to Bacolod in hastening the results of RT-PCR (Reverse Transcription – Polymerase Chain Reaction) tests for COVID-19.
“This is very timely and a very good news for Bacolod, for Negros, and for Western Visayas,” said Ang, who represented Mayor Evelio Leonardia in the inauguration of the laboratory.
“The molecular lab will complement the Bacolod Respiratory Referral Center (BRRC), a public-private partnership of the city and BQMH. We would like to thank the BQMH for the meaningful partnership especially in this time of the COVID-19 pandemic,” she added.
In a statement, Leonardia said “We salute the Bacolod Queen of Mercy Hospital for their impact project. This is the call of the times and their institution has proven again its responsiveness and relevance to the community. With the strong participation of the private sector, the city becomes more equipped in this fight against COVID-19.”
Dr. Evangeline Johnson, BQMH Board chair, said that the new laboratory can conduct 120 COVID-19 tests per day or about 400 to 600 tests per week.
The testing center aims to attain a 24-hour turnaround time in the release of results, Johnson said.
Johnson said the new laboratory is expected to start operations on July 13, 2020 after the signing of the memorandum of agreement between BQMH and Western Visayas Medical Center (WVMC) in Iloilo which is a requirement for the issuance of a license.
BACKLOGS
Ang said COVID-19 testing was one of the topics that was extensively discussed during the meeting of the Regional Inter-Agency Task Force Against COVID-19 last Monday where she also represented Leonardia.
Dr. Mary Jane Juanico, head of the Infectious Disease Cluster of the Department of Health (DOH-6) Regional Office, announced that there are 4,000 COVID-19 tests pending at the WVMC, and another 5,000 tests at the Teresita Lopez Jalandoni Provincial Hospital in Silay City.
Citing the testing backlogs at the two biosafety laboratories that cater patients all over the region, Ang commended the BQMH for the timely project and “humanitarian mission” of establishing a laboratory that will streamline testing in the Western Visayas.
EFFICIENCY
Johnson said the BQMH molecular laboratory was constructed under strict DOH guidelines, and its diagnostic facility will perform complex and meticulous procedures using specialized machines and special airflow systems.
“These will ensure not just the quality and reliability of results but also the safety of our personnel and the community,” Johnson said.
The BQMH chair also said their staff members assigned to the molecular laboratory are registered medical technologists (RMTs) who have completed biosafety and biosecurity training at the Region 6 subnational laboratory, and had themselves tested with RT-PCR with negative results.
BQMH medical director Dr. John Alejano recognized the “Brave 12” RMTs assigned to the molecular laboratory: Dr. Christine Amada, head of Molecular Pathology; RMT Jezreel Ywayan, laboratory manager and chief, Medical Technology; and RMTs Helen Mae Defensor, Jiezel David, Li-Anne Jaya Baltazar, John Mikhail Canlas, Anna Trishia Hagoriles, Robbie Patrick Maglaya, Shekynnah Marie Parohinog, Reymark Ancha, Cleo Pagayonan, and Janreb Earl Garboso.
“This building (biolab) is a symbol of hope for us, and a show of support to our network of hospitals here in Bacolod and even in the Philippines,” Alejano emphasized.
“This is to heed the call of the DOH and of the people, and to show that we would stand together to fight this pandemic.”
BQMH administrator and chief operating officer Omar Montejo said in his welcome message that now is the time of unity regardless of positions, titles, agencies, or institutions.
“Government or private sector, the situation requires us to join all our efforts and different expertise in order to survive amidst this crisis,” he said.
The program ended with a blessing and ceremonial cutting of the ribbon led by BQMH president and chief executive officer Lucho Giovanni Giron, Ang, Johnson, Alejano, Montejo, Amada, Dr. Jamielynn Anne Nalumen, and San Carlos BioPower administrative manager David Frederick Mamuyac.
Attendees of the inauguration also included Dr. Edwin Miraflor of the City Health Office, Dr. Dolores Tiples-Ruiz of the Inter-Agency Task Force Technical Working Group on Infectious Diseases; Dr. Antonia Gensoli, medical director of Riverside Medical Center, together with Rose Abaring and Engr. Noel Garbo; The Doctor’s Hospital medical director Dr. Rafael Jocson; Dr. Mary Christine Nonato and Apple Nonato of the South Bacolod General Hospital; Pema Frasco and Grace Uy of Bacolod Adventist Medical Center; Jack Celdran of San Carlos Biopower, BQMH department chairs, and hospital staff. (PIO)
