Lamp explosion burns 3 infants

CEBU, Philippines - Three infants suffered burn injuries when a lamp at the pediatric Intensive Care Unit of the Cebu City Medical Center (CCMC) accidentally exploded Sunday morning.

It was only yesterday morning that the hospital authorities transferred the three infants, one of whom was seriously injured, to Chong Hua Hospital upon the instruction of Mayor Michael Rama, who visited the victims yesterday.

The three victims were placed at the ICU for sepsis neonatorum.

CCMC director Eduardo Sedoripa said that there are about 20 infants placed at the pediatric ICU for treatment.

But at around 2:30 to 3:00 a.m. last Sunday, a goose neck lamp exploded accidentally, seriously injuring 19-day-old Baby Boy Villarico, who suffered third-degree burns around his body.

Two other infants also suffered burn injuries but are now out of danger. Baby Boy Ibañez has 13 percent of his body injured while Baby Girl Maglasang only sustained injury to her left hand.

“The incident last Sunday seems that the bulb exploded was the reason behind the incident. It was purely an accident,” said Sedoripa, who assumed as the hospital’s officer-in-charge last January 3.

According to Sedoripa, Baby boy Villarico has been closely monitored because of his serious injuries.

A woman who just gave birth at the pediatric ward told The FREEMAN that the incident broke out when everybody was resting.

“Nagkaguliyang ug nagkagubot gyud ang ospital. Kalit ra man kaayo ang hitabo kay naa man mibuto unya miaso gyud dayon,” she said.

Sedoripa said they did not immediately transfer the babies to the private hospital since CCMC has doctors who immediately attended to the babies.

He downplayed reports that they wanted to cover up the incident by not reporting it immediately to the mayor.

“We informed the mayor about the incident and we are doing our best to help the victims. But it does not mean right now that we transfer them to Chong Hua, wala na’y capability ang atong mga doctors,” he said.

Sedoripa suspected that the lamp at the ward was overused, saying that it has been used for almost a day when it should only be used for a maximum of 13 hours.

The accident prompted south district Rep. Tomas Osmeña to renew his calls to close down the city-run hospital.

When he was still the mayor, Osmeña had announced his plan to shut down or sell the CCMC, claiming that he was fed up with criticisms over poor performance of its personnel.

Osmeña said the incident was no longer an isolated case.

He recalled an incident in which their driver died at the hospital due to what he claimed as negligence of its personnel.

The congressman said critics accused him of being anti-poor for wanting to close down the hospital.

“It’s not an isolated case. I’ve been accused that I’m not caring for the poor. Now, you will see more things here. Remember, my driver died at CCMC,” Osmeña said.

Rama said the city will shoulder all expenses of the victims. He asked CCMC officials to submit to him details of their investigation into the incident.

Visiting the victims at the hospital, City Councilor Margot Osmeña and north district Rep. Rachel “Cutie” del Mar said they were sad over the incident.

“We visited along with Councilor Alvin Dizon the babies immediately after we found out about the incident,” Margot said.

She said they already requested Sedoripa to furnish them a report on the incident.

The City Council also wants to know why the parents of the babies were asked to sign a waiver.

“After the report, we will decide what to do,” Margot said.

Del Mar, for her part, said her office is willing to extend financial and medical assistance to the victims. —/LPM (FREEMAN)