US military donates ICU beds to Cagayan hospital

MANILA, Philippines — The US Indo-Pacific Command donated intensive care unit (ICU) beds to the Cagayan Valley Medical Center (CVMC) in Tuguegarao City, which is now operating at full capacity due to rising COVID cases.

The donation valued at P83,000 is part of a larger assistance for ICU beds and essential protective equipment to the Department of Health, to be distributed to medical facilities in areas considered at high risk for the virus.

CVMC is the primary center for severe COVID cases in Cagayan Valley.

“This generous donation came at a very critical time in our fight against COVID-19,” hospital chief Glenn Matthew Baggao said.

Cagayan logged a record 1,066 cases on Monday.

The US has so far provided $27.5 million or P1.38 billion in support to the Philippines’ COVID-19 response.

Additional ICU beds and protective equipment, such as disposable gloves, goggles, face shields, disinfectant spray and other items to support frontline workers, will be delivered in coordination with its local partners in the coming months.

The donations will support critical care capacity in rural areas in Mindanao and Luzon.