DOH to give sea ambulances to 5 LGUs in Central Visayas
A SEA ambulance that can quickly take patients to mainland Cebu during medical emergencies was launched Monday, Feb, 21, 2022 in Bantayan town, Cebu, the municipality announced on its Facebook page.
The Department of Health Central Visayas (DOH 7) provided the Municipality of Bantayan with the P3 million sea ambulance last Feb. 9, during which the two parties signed the memorandum of agreement for the Deed of Donation. It was also the occasion for the vessel’s blessing.
The sea ambulance is among five that the DOH 7 plans to give to various local government units in the region, the DOH said earlier this month.
Bantayan Mayor Arthur Despi said authorities now have a vehicle to use to respond to medical emergencies in the islet barangays.
The northern Cebu town has 25 barangays, of which at least six are islet barangays: Botigues, Doong, Hilotongan, Lipayran, Luyongbaybay and Sulangan. In all, the town has more than 15 islets.
The ambulance measures 8.8 meters by 2.3 meters and is powered by a Suzuki DF115A outboard motor.
The sea ambulance will be able to transport patients from the islet barangays to Bantayan Island, or to Hagnaya in San Remigio town on the Cebu mainland.
Bantayan Vice Mayor Antonio Montemar, Sangguniang Bayan members, Doctor to the Barrio Honey Lee Omol, Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Assistant Erwin Tinga, and DOH representatives were among those who witnessed the send-off Monday.
The DOH7 also turned over a sea ambulance to the Municipality of Santa Fe, Cebu last Feb. 9.
Dr. Guy Perez, assistant regional director of the DOH 7 Center for Health Department, turned over the sea ambulances to Despi and Santa Fe Mayor Ithamar Espinosa.
Also set to receive sea ambulances are Medellin and Daanbantayan towns in Cebu Province, as well as Tagbilaran City in Bohol Province, the DOH 7 announced.
Each ambulance comes with an ambulance stretcher, automatic external defibrillator, portal suction machine, nebulizer, aneroid sphygmomanometer, stethoscope, oxygen cylinder and examining light, among other equipment, the DOH 7 said. (CTL)