Capitol provides transient home for province’s dialysis patients

CEBU, Philippines — The Province of Cebu will provide temporary housing for patients from its component cities and municipalities who frequent Cebu City for dialysis.

Governor Gwendolyn Garcia, in one of her online press briefings this week, has announced that the Women’s Center in Lahug, Cebu City will serve as a temporary home for dialysis patients from the province’s different component cities and municipalities.

Patients who have to undergo dialysis may also opt to stay with relatives in Cebu City. Those who could afford are also encouraged to look for places to rent in the city.

All this will be done in order to prevent the possible transmission of the virus from Cebu City, the local government unit with the most number of coronavirus cases in Central Visayas, to the province’s towns.

This is according to an article by Sugbo News, the official news site of the Capitol Public Information Office.

Garcia is also set to sign an executive order laying down protocols for patients from the province who have to undergo dialysis in Cebu City.

City and Municipal Health Officers (MHO) along with the local chief executives have also been asked by the governor for the list of impoverished patients who need to go for dialysis.

“We wish for all mayors and our MHOs and city health officers to coordinate with us aron masayod ta pila ni sila kabuok. Kadtong may kaya kamo na mangita. Kadto medyo naglisod mao na atong tagaan og kapuy-an,” Garcia said, as quoted by Sugbo News.

Garcia added that after news of a dialysis patient from Daanbantayan who tested positive for COVID-19 broke, getting ambulance drivers who can transport patients have been a challenge for fear of infection.

To recall, the COVID-19 patient from Daanbantayan died upon arrival at Chong Hua Hospital due to cardiac arrest on April 25. Prior to this, the patient has been in and out of Cebu City twice a week to undergo dialysis.

Since the patient was constantly exposed to Cebu City, he was considered a person under investigation and was swabbed for testing. He did not manifest any symptom of the coronavirus disease.  GAN (FREEMAN)