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Friday, May 09, 2003
WHO checks if city hospital can handle Sars
By Harley F. Palangchao
BAGUIO -- Three World Health Organization (WHO) representatives arrived in Baguio Wednesday to assess the capability of the Baguio General Hospital (BGH) in handling suspected or probable severe acute respiratory syndrome (Sars) cases.
Led by an Australian medical expert, the WHO officials also met with local health authorities and gave lectures on disease infection control, said Dr. Teresita Bonoan, director of the Department of Health (DOH) in the Cordilleras.
Bonoan said the WHO team inspected the Contagious Disease Pavilion unit of BGH, where five Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) from Hong Kong and Dubai and the 21-year-old female Indian missionary were earlier confined.
They were all discharged from the hospital after health officials declared them free of Sars.
Bonoan said that the WHO is expected to release its official report regarding the capability of BGH in handling suspected or probable Sars cases after visiting the Ilocos Training and Regional Medical Center and another hospital in Batac, Ilocos Norte.
Although the WHO has not yet issued its official report on BGH, Dr. Antonio Bautista of the Disease Control and Prevention Division of the DOH-CAR said in an interview that the WHO representatives suggested the modernization of the CDP building.
Bautista claimed that BGH officials estimated they need at least P3.5 million to rehabilitate the CDP building. The amount does not include procurement expenses for equipment and hospital supplies.
The BGH and other core hospitals in Northern Luzon identified as being capable of handling suspected or probable SARS cases were given special attention by the WHO since two of the three Sars-related fatalities came from the province of Pangasinan.
Bonoan and Bautista, meanwhile, claimed that health practitioners and concerned local officials are still studying the directive of President Arryo concerning the establishment of a Regional Institute for Tropical Medicine in Baguio in line with the government's all-out war against Sars.
Arroyo has chosen Baguio, as well as Davao and Cebu, as RITM expansion areas during the Sars summit in Manila last week.
Earlier reports said Mayor Bernardo Vergara has suggested that the Benguet General Hospital become the site of the institute because of its state-of-the-art facilities but Bonoan claimed the national government, through the DOH central office, still has to consult the matter with officials of the province. Sun.Star Baguio
(May 9, 2003 issue)
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