Sorsogon Governor Chiz Escudero led the opening of the province’s first isolation and treatment facility for COVID-19 and other communicable diseases to strengthen the provincial government’s health capability and response.
At the inauguration of Sorsogon Provincial Hospital’s (SPH) Temporary Treatment and Monitoring Facility (TTMF) on Friday, Escudero said at the moment it will admit COVID-19 patients but will eventually serve as an isolation center for other contagious diseases.
“For now, ito ay magsisilbing karagdagang pasilidad ng probinsya para sa treatment at monitoring para sa mga COVID cases. Mas pinatitibay rin nito ang ating COVID response strategy dahil sa pagbubukas nito mas matutugunan at mapipigilan natin ang posibleng pagkakaroon ulit ng surge ng COVID cases,” Escudero said.
The 17-bed capacity TTMF is originally envisioned as the isolation area of SPH for patients with tuberculosis, measles and other highly transmissible diseases.
He reminded Sorsoganons not to let their guard down with the decline in the number of coronavirus infections over the last few weeks and to continue to observe public health standards to sustain the downtrend in COVID cases.
“Ang peak ng Sorsogon na nangyari sa taong ito ay tinalo pa ang unang dalawang taon. Umabot tayo ng mahigit 800 positibong kaso na active. Sa ngayon ay nasa mahigit 200 na lamang tayo makalipas ang mahigit 10 days at nagkakaroon na rin ng mas mataas na bilang ng mga nagre-recover kumpara sa nagpopositibo,” Escudero shared.
At the same time, Sorsogon governor commended the provincial government’s doctors, nurses and medical workers “for a job well done” in managing the COVID-19 pandemic since the first lockdown in 2020 and putting their lives on the line many times.
“I know you have been through a lot given this pandemic and even before this in so far as adjusting and trying to learn new skills and new procedures, as well as new systems in order to deliver better health services to our people. I hope you will continue with this endeavor with your zest and you will never give up with respect to providing the best possible health care to every Sorsoganon,” Escudero said.
The former senator also announced to the SPH officials and staff that the ongoing renovation and construction of additional hospital facilities will continue without disruption as the provincial government was able to secure an additional Php150 million funding for the project.
“Good news dahil sa taong 2022, napa-release na namin ang karagdagang balanseng kinakailangan para tapusin na ang kabuuan ng SPH sa halagang Php150 million on top of initial funding of Php100 million in 2021,” Escudero said.
Construction of the hospital’s main building is ongoing, while clearing operations are underway to pave the way for the establishment of the cancer center, dialysis center and oxygen generating plant.
The SPH main building will have an outpatient department, emergency room, operating theater, delivery room, intensive care unit, neonatal intensive care unit, heart station, acute psychiatric unit, other offices and a conference room that can also be used as admission area during pandemic surge.
The SPH, along with the Sorsogon’s four district hospitals and four medicare hospitals have all acquired the much-coveted certification from the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) last year.
The veteran legislator, who is seeking a fresh six-year term in the Senate this May Elections, urged the medical staff to ensure that the health care system of the province remains strong to weather future health crisis.
“Iyan ang ating dapat na bantayan—na manatiling matatag ang ating health care system na kayang alagaan hindi lamang ang may sakit ng COVID pero ‘yun may mga ibang uri rin ng karamdaman na kinakailangan gamutin sa isang pagamutan,” Escudero said.