By Ruel Francisco/Philippine Information Agency
The Southern Tagalog Regional Hospital (STRH) in Bacoor City, Cavite, is operating at full bed capacity as corridors are being converted into treatment facilities and ER tents have to be put up to accommodate the influx of patients.
STRH Information Officer Eden Purugganan said they were taken by surprise as more patients were waiting in their cars just to be treated. Even those who are waiting in the Triage Area are waiting to be accomodated.
Hospital records show that the 70 beds allotted for COVID-19 patients are already occupied, as more people are waiting at the Emergency Room to be admitted in the ward.
Meanwhile, four nurses from the Maria L. Eleazar Memorial General Hospital in Tagkawayan, Quezon arrived last August 18, to serve as augmentation force for the COVID-19 response of the province.
“This is a good practice, the augmentation of health workers from medical facilities/hospitals in areas with low COVID-19 cases to assist LGUs needing extra help,” said STRH Medical Center Chief Dr. Ruby Ephraim Rubiano.
The nurses wholeheartedly accepted the assignment and welcomed the challenge of serving COVID-19 patients in the neighbouring province.
“Ang mga nurse ay parang isang sundalo. Kung nasaan ang giyera, nando’n ang laban,” said Nurse Marietan Beniegas.
The Southern Tagalog Regional Hospital is one of the hospitals in the province that are already at full-bed capacity and are extending their facilities to accommodate more patients in the wake of the spread of the contagious Delta variant. -rir
