The Iloilo provincial government procured two sets of respiratory ventilators worth P1.4 million each. These machines will provide effective medical care to COVID-19 patients at the Western Visayas Medical Center (WVMC) in Mandurriao, Iloilo City.
ILOILO – The provincial government purchased an initial two ventilators for the Western Visayas Medical Center (WVMC) in Mandurriao, Iloilo City which has been designated as referral hospital for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases in the islands of Panay and Guimaras.
Each ventilator cost P1.4 million.
A ventilator is a computerized microprocessor-controlled machine that provides mechanical ventilation by moving breathable air into and out of the lungs, to deliver breaths to a patient who is physically unable to breathe, or breathing insufficiently.
Difficulty in breathing is one of the symptoms of COVID-19. The others are fever, tiredness and dry cough. Some patients may have aches and pains, nasal congestion, runny nose, sore throat or diarrhea. These symptoms are usually mild and begin gradually. Some people become infected but don’t develop any symptoms and don’t feel unwell.
WVMC’s capability to handle COVID-19 cases must be enhanced, said Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr.
The provincial government plans to buy three more ventilators.
The COVID-19 pandemic has led to shortages of essential goods and services – from hand sanitizers to facemasks to beds to ventilators. Several countries have already experienced a shortage of ventilators such as the United States, Italy and Spain.
As of April 16, according to the Department of Health, Iloilo province had 16 confirmed COVID-19 cases. These were the following:
* 94-year-old male from Miag-ao (region’s Patient No. 31)
* 51-year-old female from Guimbal (region’s Patient No. 18)
* 65-year-old male from Guimbal (region’s Patient No. 2)
* 39-year-old female from Lambunao (region’s Patient No. 27)
* 41-year-old male from Lambunao (region’s Patient No. 28)
* 70-year-old female from Lambunao (region’s Patient No. 29)
* 48-year-old female from Lambunao (region’s Patient No. 30)
* 44-year-old female from Lambunao (region’s Patient No. 25)
* 70-year-old male from Lambunao (region’s Patient No. 16, died)
* 58-year-old male from Guimbal (region’s Patient No. 22, died)
* 22-year-old female from Miag-ao (region’s Patient No. 12)
* 59-year-old female from Barotac Nuevo (region’s Patient No. 10).
* 25-year-old female from Barotac Nuevo (region’s Patient No. 36)
* 50-year-old male from Pavia (region’s Patient No. 37)
* 52-year-old female from Pavia (region’s Patient No. 38)
* 21-year-old male from Miag-ao (grandson of region’s Patient No. 12)
Aside from ventilators, the provincial government is also scouting for personal protective equipment (PPEs) for frontliners at WVMC, Western Visayas Sanitarium in Santa Barbara town and district hospitals./PN
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