THE Amai Pakpak Medical Center (APMC) in Marawi City, Lanao del Sur has received additional electric Intensive Care Unit (ICU) beds and medical supplies from the Ministry of Health in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (DOH-Barmm).

Dr. Bashary Latiph, MOH minister, led on Monday, August 23, the turnover of five sets of electric ICU beds with complete accessories, personal protective equipment, and various medical supplies to APMC.

Donated by the United States Civil Military Support Element, the ICU beds have special features both for the comfort of the patient and for the convenience of healthcare workers.

Dr. Shalimar Rakiin of APMC said the turnover of the ICU beds was timely, as they are expanding to add 10 to 20 more beds to be able to accommodate more coronavirus disease 2019 (Coid-19) patients.

"Our critical care utilization rate is at 90 percent. Our dedicated 20 beds for ICU are already filled up while our hospital care utilization is already 96 percent occupied," she said, citing they have 144 admissions and the hospital bed capacity is only 150.

The APMC is one of retained hospitals of the Department of Health (DOH) and Covid-19 referral hospitals that cater to patients coming from Lanao del Sur and its nearby cities and provinces like Iligan City, Cagayan de Oro City and municipalities from Lanao del Norte and Misamis Occidental.

Meanwhile, Latiph lauded the healthcare workers for their exemplary work in addressing the health crisis.

"Our job is no joke. Despite the riskiness of our profession, you continue to manage your patients. We salute all of you for your heroic act as you chose to fight rather than surrender," he said. (SunStar Zamboanga)