Regional hospital in Dagupan to thoroughly screen patients

LINGAYEN, Pangasinan — Beginning this week, patients seeking treatment at the state-run Region 1 Medical Center (RIMC) in Dagupan City will be strictly screened for SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) to protect government health workers.

Dr. Jesus Canto, RIMC director, disclosed this when he and other Department of Health (DOH) officials were invited by the provincial board last Friday to report on the status of SARS in Pangasinan and proposals to contain the spread of the disease.

Canto said he expects criticisms on the strict screening, but added that "the people should understand."

"I know the public will get mad at what I’m going to do. I hope the media will help us," Canto said.

Unlike before when anybody can just enter the RIMC, this time patients seeking treatment there can enter only one at a time for thorough screening.

He said he has formed a team to carry this out and that he is networking with three other hospitals to put up isolation rooms for suspected SARS cases.

He said he earlier had put up an isolation room at the RIMC annex in Bonuan Binloc, Dagupan City, but residents, businessmen and the owner of the lot where the facility was put up, protested the move.

Meanwhile, Dr. Revelin Cayabyab, regional epidemiologist assigned to monitor the health conditions of residents of Barangay Vacante in Alcala town, told the provincial board that although SARS has been contained in the village, "we should not relax yet."

Confirmed SARS cases Adela Catalon and her father, Mauricio, hailed from Barangay Vacante. They died days after each other, prompting the DOH to quarantine the entire community.

"Although the 14-day quarantine period in Vacante has been lifted, we have instructed our health workers in Alcala to still monitor the body temperatures of residents there, " Cayabyab said.

She said vigilance against SARS cases is imperative since many overseas Filipino workers are coming home.

She cited the plan of Interior and Local Government Secretary Jose Lina to tap barangay teams in monitoring these returning workers.