‘Imminent collapse of Benguet health care system worry public health execs’

La Trinidad, Benguet (September 15, 2021)— Health authorities express alarm over the rising cases of COVID-19 in Benguet.

Benguet Provincial Health Officer Nora Ruiz noted 230 new cases and three Covid-related deaths on September 13, 2021.

As of 5:00 PM of September 14, 2021 meanwhile, the province logged 45 new cases and one death.  The data brings the total confirmed cases to 5, 266 with 589 active cases and 142 Covid-related deaths.

Ruiz said that the  almost all the Temporary Treatment and monitoring Facilities (TTMF) in the province are at full capacity.

She also said the TTMF of Benguet General Hospital (BeGH) are already full. She also revealed that some of the patients in BeGH are being treated in the ambulances.

BeGH Chief Dr. Meliarazon Dulay said that the healthcare system of the hospital is already on the brink of collapse. She disclosed that the number of Covid patients being admitted in the hospital is getting bigger while the hospital facilities are full.

Dulay said most of the patients are experiencing mild, severe and critical symptoms.

“HCWs give up”

Dr. Dulay admitted thae are having a hard time as many of the health workers were also hit by the virus and they are on quarantine.

She also admitted that eight of their healthcare workers (HCWs) including doctors who were deployed by the Department of Health (DOH) did not renew their contracts.

Dulay revealed that they are also worrying about the limited medical supply and equipment especially the ones needed for treating Covid patients.

The physician also expressed her concern as private hospitals cannot anymore accept Covid patients as their facilities are already full.

Because of this, she said, the patients have no other hospitals to go and BeGh had to admit them.

Artemio A. Dumlao