BMC notes success in fight against Covid-19

By Ana-Liza S. Macatangay

The Covid-19 pandemic has totally altered the usual way of life as the “new normal” – bringing everyone in a fighting arena, facing an “invisible enemy” in the forefront.

This challenge is more apparent to the health workers and other frontliners, most especially to Covid-19-designated hospitals, like the Bicol Medical Center (BMC).

“The Bicol Medical Center had to take action and respond immediately to the threats posed by the Covid-19 pandemic. During the first quarter of the year, we established the Covid-19 Hotline and converted the pay ward building to serve as a dedicated ward for Covid-19 patients,” BMC chief Dr. Francisco Sales III said.

During the 1st first formal meeting of the Multi-Sectoral Governance Council (MSGC) and BMC, held first week of December,2020, Sales shared the milestones that the hospital have accomplished in its fight against the virus, while admitting that there were indeed challenging concerns along the way.

BMC has also secured the Emerging and Re-emerging Infectious Disease (EREID) Ward, which was given a dedicated triage area, an emergency room, operating room, Hemodialysis services, and an intensive care unit.

One of the effective infection control measures that BMC has undertaken was the early implementation of zoning of facilities, with a separate Covid-19 ward.

“The Covid-19 testing facility called the GeneXpert Laboratory was promptly set-up. Thanks to the Department of Health's full-support and the adeptness of BMC's medical technologists, who were first takers in the proficiency examination for Covid-19 Laboratory licensing,” Sales added.

Sales also thanked various local government units’ (LGUs) epidemiology surveillance units and other non-government organizations (NGOs) for their support and assistance to ensure that Covid-19 cases will not spread.

The BMC chief specifically mentioned that the face masks and PPEs, other logistics and resources that the hospital received, greatly helped in their fight against the virus, particularly in protecting their medical frontlines, who face the day-to-day danger of being infected with the Covid-19.

"We are now working on the Covid-19 makeshift facility that will increase our bed capacity to 100, fully equipped with dedicated ER, OR, special and diagnostic services.

We are also establishing the COVID-19 Pop-up Laboratory that will ensure timely results to reduce contact and transmission of COVID-19 cases,” Sales said.

Above all, he thanked the members of the BMC-MSGC for positively backing up the hospital’s programs and projects.