BMC ‘s Covid wards under full capacity

By Ana-Liza S. Macatangay

The rapid surge of individuals getting infected with the Covid-19 disease has put the Bicol Medical Center (BMC) in a challenging situation as its Covid-19 and isolation wards are now under full capacity, with more patients still lining up to be admitted.

In a public statement released by BMC on June 4, Friday, the hospital said it will only accept Covid-19 patients with severe symptoms and those in critical conditions.

BMC said it is currently understaffed, which makes admission of Covid-19 patients a big challenge given the continuous increase of infected individual trooping to the said hospital to seek medical treatment.

“BMC’s high-flow oxygen machines and mechanical ventilators are now all deployed and being used. Hence, there is no more available unit that can be utilized for new admissions,” the BMC statement said.

Given the spike in cases and the limited Covid-129 facilities, BMC appealed to the local government units (LGUs) to step up their own quarantine facilities to accommodate their respective constituents who are exhibiting mild symptoms or are asymptomatic.

The BMC Infection Control Unit (ICU) headed by its only infectious disease specialist, Dr. Jose Manuel Rañola III, together with its limited personnel, has to attend to the Covid-19 wards, which has 55 admitted patients, mostly severe to critical condition. The isolation dedicated ward for suspected Covid-19 patients has also 28 admitted patients, 60 percent of whom are severely ill.

BMC is also calling on licensed and newly-graduated nurses to serve in the BMC’s Covid-19 wards to augment its current medical staff. The hiring process is on-going.

Hospital officials also seek the cooperation of the public in the fight against Covid-19 by strictly following the health protocols and adherence to the minimum health standards to prevent the virus from spreading.

BMC chief, Dr. Francisco Sales III, also urged everyone to get vaccinated if they have the opportunity. In this way, he said, every family will have another layer of protection against Covid-19 and the spread of the virus will be impeded. This is also one way to attain herd immunity in the Bicol region, he added. (LSMacatangay-PIAV/Camarines Sur)