Carcar hospital going full blast

The new 60-million provincial hospital in Carcar City will fully operate next month.

Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia, who visited the Carcar Provincial Hospital Wednesday with Carcar City officials, said she saw improvements in the facility.

Last June 28, the hospital, which has a 100-bed capacity, began accepting patients.

As of yesterday, it had admitted 67 patients.

At present, the hospital is using only 50 beds because it is still acquiring clearances before it can start full operation. Garcia said they are expecting to inaugurate the hospital in August.

One of the patients, Perlita Cabalona, was nursing her baby after giving birth last Tuesday morning. Cabalona commended the midwives who attended to her needs.

“Maayo man (They’re good),” she said.

Cabalona is one of two mothers admitted at the Obstetrics and Gynecological ward.

There are seven patients in the surgical ward.

Gwendolyn Claracay, chief nurse of the hospital, said an average of 10 patients are admitted in the hospital per day.

Around 30 personnel are manning the hospital with Evelyn Familgan, chief of the hospital, overseeing the operation.

Dr. Christina Giango, Provincial Health Office head, said the hospital is equipped with five doctors who specialize in obstetrics and gynecology, surgery, pediatrics and general medicine.

Governor Garcia said she would offer the doctors free office space at the hospital for their service. But they have to take care of the water and electric bills, she said.

An old building have to be transformed into an out-patient department (OPD) since it requires a bigger space.

“We continue to push for more improvements. Work at the OPD is ongoing. I expect that to be finished by next week. In the meantime, the outpatient services would continue,” said Garcia.

The hospital is 1.5 kilometers away from the city hall. Garcia considered this as a strategic location since the hospital could now accommodate residents from the southeast and southwest of Cebu.

The Carcar Provincial Hospital was also upgraded from a secondary to a tertiary hospital, making it capable of handling more serious medical cases like bone fractures. Correspondent CARMEL LOISE MATUS