Capitol’s first ICU opens in Carcar

CEBU, Philippines — The first public Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of a provincial-run hospital was launched in Carcar City last Tuesday.

The ICU for babies and adults are equipped with monitors and gadgets amounting to P20.74 million. These equipment include mechanical ventilators for babies and adults, defibrillators, cardiac monitors, incubators, infusion pumps, syringe pumps and suction machines, to name a few.

Cebu Provincial Hospital (CPH)-Carcar City is the first hospital in the province to be equipped with an ICU, which is located on the second floor of the building.

Provincial Health Office (PHO) Head Dr. Rene Catan said that confinement in an ICU at a private hospital can cost patient about P30,000.

But with the new ICU in Carcar City, the use of the facility is free and there are only minimal charges to cover for the other medical expenses.

“First sa Sugbo nga duna na kita’y ICU. Niabot na ta aning tungora ug di na ta mo-undang sa atong tinguha nga kalambuan sa matag Sugbuanon,” said Governor Hilario Davide III, in his speech.

With the new addition, patients with severe and life-threatening conditions needing intensive medical attention would no longer have to be rushed to hospitals in Cebu City since CPH-Carcar can cater to them, said CPH-Carcar City Chief Dr. Mario Joyag Jr.

During the launch and blessing, Davide visited the first ICU patients: a 75-year-old grandmother and a newborn baby, both suffering from an infection.

Apart from the new equipment and improved services, the governor assured that there would be more and better health services, especially for indigents.

Public health is on top of the six key development agenda of the current provincial administration.

Meanwhile, the Capitol, through the PHO, recently introduced the free total knee-cap surgery and cataract surgery for indigents.

Beneficiaries Roberta Tanodtanod, 73, and Felicisima Abian, 62, met with the governor after their successful total knee cap replacement operations.

Both of their surgeries were done at CPH-Carcar and performed by PHO Head Dr. Rene Catan, who is also an orthopedic surgeon. — GAN (FREEMAN)