Baguio hospital readied as Covid-19 isolation center

BAGUIO CITY – The revived  Sto. Niño Jesus Medical Center which will serve as the city’s isolation facility for Covid-19 cases is being readied   to operate by May 15. 

Saint Louis University president Fr. Gilbert Sales led mass and blessing ceremony of the revived Sto. Nino Hospital with Baguio City officials led by Mayor Benjamin Magalong and Rep. Mark Go and other regional line agency heads and representatives in attendance last week.

Operations will start mid -May as equipment, medical supplies and paper works are being completed.

SLU Hospital of the Sacred Heart Medical sirector Dr. Paul Adlai Quitiquit said the newly refurbished health facility will serve as a community isolation unit where stable COVID-19 probable or suspected patients will be isolated. He clarified that that those who needs treatment due to their illness will still be sent to the other health facilities in the city.

The health facility will be run by the city government of Baguio with the support of the major health facilities of the city fighting against the COVID-19 which include SLU Hospital of the Sacred Heart, the Baguio General Hospital and Medical Center, Pines City Doctors Hospital and the Notre Dame de Chartres Hospital. Its operation will be directly under the group of Dr. Quitiquit. 

The facility located at Lower P. Burgos barangay can accommodate at least 50 patients. 

The hospital will have 30 health personnel to include doctors, nurses and aides who will be working on a shifting scheme.

Quitiquit said that while the SNJMC is being completed for operation, probable or suspected patients of the COVID-19 in the city could still use the Lindi Hotel which is the city’s first COVID-19 isolation facility.

Last month, the owners of the Lindi Hotel along Legarda Road allowed the local government and the health department to use its facility as the city’s centralized containment area for COVID-19 suspected cases.

Meanwhile, Mayor Magalong thanked the Fernandez family for allowing the use of their hospital which ceased operation years ago as the city’s isolation facility for COVID-19. He also thanked Dr. Willy Occidental for working closely with the owners for the use of the facility in this time of health crisis.

                The Baguio LGU with government line agencies such as the Department of Public Works and Highways, Philippine National Police, Dept. on Information and Communications TechnologyCT the private sector are working together in this project in   response to the Covid 19 crisis. (JDP/RMC- PIA CAR)