Medical teams air gripe vs hospital

TACLOBAN CITY—The leader of an Australian-based group of Filipinos who conducted a medical mission in a Leyte town has decried the lack of support from a district hospital for the activity.

Aileen Asoy, of the Care and Share Army (Casa), a group of Filipinos based in Sydney, said that they felt slighted by the lack of full support from the staff and officials of the Carigara District Hospital (CDH) in Carigara town where they conducted the medical mission.

“We were disappointed,” said Asoy.

Asoy said her group spent P2 million on medical supplies and equipment alone aside from the travel expenses from the travel expenses of the 40 doctors, nurses and health professionals who spent for their own.

The group, together with the Ugnayan ng Pahinungud-Philippine General Hospital (PGH) Team and Rotary Australian Community Service, conducted the medical mission at the CDH from May 20 to 24 for residents of the towns of Barugo, Carigara, Jaro, Tunga and Capoocan.

CDH chief Dr. Teresa Aguilar, however, denied that the hospital did not cooperate with Asoy’s group. “That is not true. I have done everything possible that I can. I allowed them the use of the operating room and the operating table,” she said in a phone interview. “If they feel that I did not show my support, I cannot do anything.”

She said the hospital lacked manpower. The CDU, which serves the 14 towns of the second district, has six doctors and 15 nurses. However, five nurses and a doctor are on leave. “We have to attend to our own patients,” Aguilar said.