VSMMC reaps awards for COVID-19 fight

CEBU, Philippines — Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center was recognized nationally and internationally for its “tireless efforts” in the battle of COVID-19 pandemic.

The government hospital, which is led by Dr. Gerardo Aquino, received an award from the International Hospital Federation for going “beyond the call of duty for Covid-19.”

A total of 103 hospitals and health service providers from 28 countries out of the unidentified total number of entries have been given the special recognition.

VSMMC is the only hospital in Cebu, in particular, and the Visayas and Mindanao region, in general, that got included in the final list.

“They have instituted changes in the provision of healthcare, from technological innovations in diagnosis and treatment, to restructuring workflow systems and doctor-patient interactions,” part of the briefer of the award-giving body said.

It said that VSMMC was recognized mainly for addressing early on misinformation about COVID-19 by using social media platforms to provide the general public a reliable source of information.

“They gave the public practical health awareness and work to boost the morale of other frontliners. VSMMC’s Facebook page showed at least 30,000 post engagements per week and reached at least 100,000 people a weekly basis, with viewers from 45 countries,” the briefer said.

Aside from the information dissemination drive, VSMMC also addressed early on the need to increase the COVID-19 testing by the end of March of this year by establishing its own testing facility and later on even a drive-thru testing for the general public, it added.

VSMMC also adopted alternative work arrangement, contingency plans, hospital zoning, increased bed capacity, as well as prohibited visitors from entering the hospital.

More recognition

Two days prior to the international recognition, VSMMC was also named as the only Cebu hospital that was given recognition in the nationwide Gawad Bayaning Kalusugan spearheaded by the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Association of Allied Health Organization of the Nation and Heal Ph.

This award is given to frontliners in the healthcare and case management of COVID-19 patients as a tribute to its heroic and selfless act amidst the pandemic.

Dr. Helen Madamba, chief implementer of the VSMMC COVID-19 center, was also recognized as one of the 10 outstanding individuals.

VSMMC’s Department of Family and Community Medicine, for its part, also made it to the top 10 in the team category. —JMD (FREEMAN)