JORDAN, Guimaras, (PNA) - The provincial government here is keen on upgrading all its provincial and municipal hospitals.
Governor Felipe Hilan Nava said that the provincial government is looking for a supplemental budget to upgrade the hospitals in the province to improve their delivery of services.
This island province has three big hospitals that include the Guimaras Provincial Hospital in San Miguel, Jordan and an extension hospital in Buenavista town and Nueva Valencia Community Hospital in Brgy. Lanipe, Nueva Valencia.
According to the Guimaras governor, these hospitals cater to 25 to 30 patients at a time.
However, with the ongoing dengue fever outbreak in the province, the hospitals have up to 70 patients crowding their hallways, he said. Most of these patients are brought to hospitals in Iloilo City, which can be reached by sea-crossing some 20, 25 minutes away, he added.
"This is the reason why we are hastening the rehabilitation and upgrading of the wharves in Guimaras, particularly those in Jordan and Buenavista towns, so that patients can be easily transferred to Iloilo City by boat," he said.
The province, Nava informed, has municipal rural health units in each in each of its five municipalities. These are being complemented by health centers found in most barangays which also offer free consultations and when available, free medicines.
The Governor said he is working closely with the provincial board to look for funds in upgrading the hospitals. The funds will be used in procuring medicines, additional hospital beds, equipments and hopefully, a new ambulance. The province also mulls hiring additional nurses and medical professionals.
Nava, a medical doctor, said that health is a priority in his administration, particularly with Guimaras' growing population.
