The Bacolod City Emergency Operations Center Task Force (EOC-TF) is encouraging pregnant women to undergo prenatal checkups.
EOC-TF One Hospital Command Center (OHCC) administrative officer, Dr. Claire Capiral, stressed today that prenatal checkups are important “to note if there are complications before delivery.”
The OHCC monitors the daily healthcare capacity, which pertains to data regarding the Capacity Utilization Rate (CUR) and bed availability of the seven hospitals in Bacolod, a press release from the Bacolod Information Office said.
The OHCC aims to facilitate hospital admission, to ensure that all moderate-to-severe patients won’t be refused admission to the health facilities, it added.
“Pregnant women can experience changes to their immune systems that can make them more vulnerable to respiratory viruses. These changes, plus the fact that there is no vaccine for COVID-19 yet, mean that expectant mothers should be proactive when it comes to safety measures,” City Administrator Em Ang, who is also the EOC executive director and deputy for admin and operations, said.
Pregnant women are at an increased risk for COVID-19 and at increased risk for other adverse outcomes, such as preterm birth, she said.
The EOC is reminding them to follow health protocols, which include wearing of face masks and face shields, practicing good hand hygiene, physical distancing and staying at home if possible, especially during the last trimester of pregnancy, Ang said.
“The EOC advises these women to seek early consultation when experiencing symptoms or if there’s a history of close contact with a confirmed COVID-19 case,” Ang added.
Meanwhile, the Philippine Obstetrics and Gynecologist Society (POGS) has set guidelines for admission of expecting mothers to hospitals amid the pandemic, among which is to undergo a prior COVID-19 test.
“It would be best if you test negative for COVID-19. It’s very difficult to be referred to hospitals if one has a complicated pregnancy and no swab test was done or worse, the patient is positive for COVID-19. In both ways, admission is costly because of isolation and PPE,” Acting City Health Officer Dr. Edwin Miraflor Jr. said.
“So if you’re expectant, please stay at home”, he said.*