CCMC addresses sanitation issues after patient's post

CEBU, Philippines — A COVID-19 patient at a holding tent outside the Cebu City Medical Center took to social media to bring to management’s attention the sanitation issues in the area.

The patient, who identified himself as a former staff worker for a Cebu City congressman, told The FREEMAN he had no choice but to post their condition at the isolation tent as he did not know where to address his concern.

Part of the now-deleted series of posts of the patient showed garbage scattered in the area, as well as what he described as urine and feces in different corners.

He said they were not allowed to go out and use a comfort room, which left them with no choice but to use plastic bags to relieve themselves.

He said he wanted to be transferred to another facility, but he was not allegedly given assistance by the doctor or nurses.

CCMC administrator Yvonne Cania said they have already addressed the patients’ concerns.

She said CCMC is working on putting up a portalet or portable toilet inside the holding tent.

Cania explained the patients were temporarily housed in the tent while waiting for available beds at the Cebu City Quarantine Center.

Cania, however, said patients should channel their problems directly to the management or hospital staff, and not through social media.

Emergency Operations Center deputy chief implementer and City Councilor Joel Garganera, for his part, slammed the patient’s action, saying the patient should have been grateful instead that he was accommodated at the facility.

This, as there are several other patients waiting for available beds in the hospitals right now.

Garganera said that the patient was luckier than others who were seen sleeping on the sidewalks in the vicinity of some hospitals as they await medical attention. — Decemay P. Padilla, JMD (FREEMAN)