Bacolod Mayor Evelio Leonardia has ordered that the Midway Referral Facility in Barangay Alijis be capacitated to handle COVID patients awaiting hospital admission as well as those who are discharged from the hospital but still need to recuperate, City Administrator Em Ang said Thursday, September 30.
This is in order to address the present shortage of hospital beds because of the surge of COVID-19 cases in Bacolod and Negros Occidental, Ang said in a post on her Facebook page.
“This step-up and step-down care concept or lower level of care will decongest hospitals and cater to more Covid-19 patients. Doctors will be on call 24/7. Patients’ vital signs will be closely monitored and started on medication, and in the event of incidents requiring cardiopulmonary resuscitation, the DRRMO shall promptly deploy EMTs and ambulance for immediate transfer of patient to an emergency facility, “ she said.
On Thursday, Leonardia inspected the facility together with Ang – Emergency Operations Center executive director, Dr. Edwin Miraflor – City Health Office officer-in-charge and Dr. Anna Maria Laarni Pornan- Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office head.
The mayor also met with Midway Facility personnel led by its Supervisor Robert Toledo, nurses Jizelle Villafuerte, Hozee Tunao, Ma. Agessa Espuerta, Ana Mae Canete, midwife Analiza Catapia and Barangay Health Worker Glenda Rivera.*