By Roel Amazona/PNA
PALO, Leyte — The Department of Health (DOH) through the Health Facilities Enhancement Program (HFEP) turned-over three ambulances to hospitals managed by the Leyte provincial government.
Recipient hospitals are the Leyte Provincial Hospital in Palo town, Western Leyte Provincial Hospital in Baybay City, and Ormoc District Hospital in Ormoc City.
DOH Eastern Visayas assistant regional director Exuperia Sabalo and Leyte Governor Leopoldo Dominico Petilla led the turn-over to the chiefs of hospital at the provincial capitol ground on Wednesday. Each ambulance costs PHP2.2 million each.
“We recognize our limitation as level 1 hospital. It is for this that we need to refer them to a higher center because of our limited capacity. As much as we try to give the best treatment that we can, there are instances that our patients need higher kind of treatment or operation,” Ofelia Absin, acting provincial health officer said.
“It is important that a good ambulance to ferry our patients to upgraded health facility the safest and comfortable way,” she added.
The official said they also requested the health department to provide ambulances for seven other hospitals under the provincial government.
“Each hospital needs at least one ambulance. With DOH providing ambulance, the recipient’s responsibility is to provide the competent manpower and ensure maintenance of the vehicle,” Sabalo added.
The assistance from the national government to the province is a big help to ensure the sustainability of hospitals’ operation, Petilla said.
“We are thankful to the DOH for helping us. The province had been beefing up its capabilities in all aspect including in health, disaster preparedness, and peace and order,” Petilla added.
During the landfall of Typhoon “Yolanda” on Nov 8, 2013, four of the 11 hospitals under the management of the province of Leyte were destroyed. The province and its partners had rebuild and improved facilities of the hospitals to address the needs of patients, he said.
Aside from the ambulance, the province also received the budget for infrastructure project under the HFEP, which includes the rehabilitation of rural health units in the towns of Tunga, Carigara, Capoocan and Jaro and district hospitals in Burauen and Carigara.
Petilla added that the improvement of district hospitals in Abuyog and Palompon are also ongoing.
Meanwhile, Sabalo reminded chiefs of hospital to ensure that drivers of ambulances are well-trained to avoid accidents.
She said the regional office had learned a lesson after a driver from the regional office died in a car accident involving an ambulance from Southern Leyte last year.
“Ambulance driver has this misconception that they must always drive fast but that is wrong. They must undergo training for them to familiarize the appropriate speed of the vehicle when transporting patients to a hospital,” she said. “If they do speed driving they might harm the public. Instead of only one patient, the vehicle might end up having another patient when they are reckless on the road.”
