BGHMC sends home centenarian COVID-19 survivor in Baguio City

October 24, 2020 Metro BLISTT

BAGUIO CITY, Oct. 20 – Beating the odds, a 106-year-old patient who is a native of Aguinaldo, Ifugao and now a resident of Irisan, Baguio City, was recorded as the oldest COVID-19 survivor in the city and probably in the country after having a negative swab result today.
The daughter of the patient, who was admitted in the hospital for 13 days, expressed gratitude especially to the health care workers who took care of their father. “God made you as an instrument. I hope that my father would be an inspiration to all COVID-19 patients,” she said.
Present during the sendoff were BGHMC Medical Center Chief Dr. Ricardo B. Runez Jr., Chief Medical Professional StaffDr. Ray P. Suanding, Adult Infectious Disease Specialist Dr. Thea Pamela T. Cajulao, attending Cardiologist Dr. Ray P. Aswat, Emergency Department HeadDr. Larry C. Haya Jr., and Chief Nurse Joselito M. Datud. Dr. Runez stated that the “discharge of the patient is a testament to our adaptation to the pandemic and striving towards resilience in our everyday life.”
A tribute is given to our doctors and nurses and the rest of the health care team for their dedication to work as translated to the challenges that were battled and surpassed, he said. A dance number was performed by the Infectious Disease Nurses headed by their Nurse Supervisor Czarina T. Mendoza during the send-off.
Meanwhile, Cajulao reiterated that COVID-19 should not be taken lightly because most cases are mild but the number of severe and critical cases is increasing especially among the vulnerable population including the elderly and those with co-morbidities.
“Our patient is a living proof that COVID-19 can be beaten. Remember that prevention is better than cure but in instances that we cannot prevent it, early detection, treatment and isolation can help decrease the risk for mortality,” she said.
As of this writing, the hospital has admitted a total of 338 COVID-19 cases, 259 of them have already recovered while 63 are still active cases. There were 16 deaths, three of whom were dead on arrival.
The centenarian now serves as an epitome of a COVID fighter in the City of Baguio and the Cordillera Region. Despite all the difficulties during his admission, he was able to prove that age is just a number.
Alberto T. Cuilanlll&Jayvee O. Moltio/BGHMC