Fire destroys Poro birthing center

CEBU, Philippines - A fire gutted a birthing center in Poro in Camotes Islands early morning on Thursday.

The damage was pegged at P500,000, said SFO2 Thabbeus Cadigon of Poro Fire Station.

Investigation showed that short circuit caused the fire, which occurred around 2:15 a.m. at the delivery room of the center.

Cadigon said that it took 40 minutes for them to put out the fire.

Provincial Health Office head Cynthia Genosolango confirmed the report from Municipal Health Officer Mabel Juete.

She said that according to Juete, water was dripping from the ceiling following the heavy downpour which started Wednesday. The midwife on duty and a nurse later noticed smoke and fire coming from the ceiling.

“Structure and equipment dili na magamit gyod kuno. Both structure that cost around P1.2 million and equipment from DOH under HFEP (Health Facilities Enhancement Program),” Genosolango said in a text message sent to The Freeman.

The center was constructed through a program under the Department of Health.

HFEP aims to upgrade health facilities and train health professionals to improve access to people who need quality health care.

Regional Health Education Program Officer Bernadine Hayag told The Freeman that she was inside the birthing center with two midwives and a nurse.

They slept at the lobby of the center, which is adjacent to the Poro Rural Health Unit, and were awaken by shouts regarding the fire.

“Namatngunan sa usa ka midwife nga naay sunog kay nakamata man siya unya nakakita siya nga nagsiga na ang labor room nga area. Pagsyagit niya, nakamata sad mi. Nanagan mi sa gawas. Fortunately, wala ray naangol,” Hayag shared adding that it was fortunate that the municipal fire bureau office is just beside the health center.

Hayag was in Poro as the designated area coordinator of the three municipalities in Camotes islands for the nationwide Measles/Rubella and Oral Polio Vaccine mass immunization.

“At first nag duha-duha mig inform sa municipal health officer pero amo nalang gi-missed call. Nag-return call man so amo na gistoryahan nga nasunog ang birthing center,” she said. — Michael Vencynth H. Braga and Jessa J. Agua/ATO (FREEMAN)