CH to hire father of one of the victims

CEBU, Philippines -  While baby Kean Carl Villarico, one of the three babies burned in a lamp accident at the Cebu City Medical Center in February, is continuously showing signs of recovery, the City Hall has decided to give job to his father to support his family.

Councilor Margarita Osmeña said the baby was already taken out of the intensive care unit (ICU) of Chong Hua Hospital and is now confined at a regular room. However, she added that while the baby is continuously recovering, he still cannot be brought home because the wounds in his bodies still need to heal.

Kean Carl has been undergoing facial and body skin grafting conducted by the surgeons. Skin grafting is the process of placing healthy skin, sometimes taken from other body parts of the patient himself, over burns. The procedure is done to reduce the course of treatment needed over burns and to improve the appearance of the area affected.

Even if the baby is already out of the hospital’s ICU, Osmeña said she is more concerned on the daily medications.

Because of this, she added the City Hall’s legal department has requested her to pass a resolution to establish guidelines as to what extent the city government will be extending assistance to the families of victims.

Osmeña believed the city government should extend medical assistance to Kean Carl and the two other babies who were burned when a lamp at the pediatric ward of the city-run hospital exploded.

She said the father of Kean Carl, Rolando Villarico, who presently works at a bakery, will be given a job at the City Hall.

Osmeña added that Mayor Michael Rama told Rolando that he will be given a job at the City Hall so he can support his family. However, she said it will be up to the mayor as to where Rolando to assign the baby’s father.

Rolando and his wife, Michelle, a plain housewife, said they are not planning to file any case against the administration of the hospital because they don’t have money.

They also signed a waiver that says they voluntarily agree that they will not file any claims against the CCMC.

The incident was discovered after Osmeña received a text message last February 24 about what happened at the pediatric ward of the hospital. (FREEMAN)