IPHO tasks to check district hospitals' capability to admit dengue patients

CEBU, Philippines – Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia wants the Integrated Provincial Health Office to look into the capabilities of the district hospitals in the province to see if it can still accommodate additional dengue patients.

Garcia said some district hospitals cater patients depending on the level of services they can give since primary hospitals only have 10 beds and secondary hospitals have 25 beds.

"In Carcar, we are aiming for 100 beds but we are also planning to provide additional equipments," she said.

Results from the IPHO show that Minglanilla has the most number of dengue cases. It has recorded 120 cases with four fatalities.

The rise in the number of dengue patients has worried primary and secondary hospitals where to confine the other patients that could no longer be accommodated by them.

Garcia explains that the province is willing to support whatever help they can give but still awaiting for requests from Provincial Board member Sergio Restauro, chairman of the Committee on Health and head of the Task Force Dengue in the province.

"Providing chemicals and blowers are quiet considerable amount but the Province of Cebu is ready to purchase additional equipments as requested by PB Restauro," she said, adding that it is better to know the facts in the field so that the province can assists the Department of Health in treating dengue cases.

The governor said it is the primary task of the LGUs to spell out preventive measures since they are the front liners.

"LGUs are in the front line and the province will back them up. They have my full support. If they need more chemicals and blowers we will buy basta wala lay den-gue," she said. (FREEMAN)