The Negros Oriental government will prioritize the restoration of the Guihulngan District Hospital, over the construction of a new unit for obstetrics and newborn care.

Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo said it was unfortunate that the hospital was damaged the recent earthquake, which has caused the delay in the construction of the Guihulngan District Hospital’s Comprehensive Emergency Obstetrics and Newborn Care (CEMONC) unit.  The new facility already has an allocation of P21million for construction.

Gov. Degamo said the bidding was already done and the construction of the project is supposed to start soon.

The restoration of the district hospital facilities will be prioritized so that it can be used and the resident-patients in the area can avail at once, Degamo added.

The CMONC is in line with the efforts to reduce the maternal and child mortality rate in the province, and improve the health services at the Guihulngan District Hospital, this is learned.

With the continuous aftershocks, the damages of the hospital had been extensive. Thus, local health officials were obliged to transfer the patients to a temporary safe place outside the hospital.

With this, the governor directed the Provincial Engineer’s Office (PEO) to inspect and assess the extent of the damage of the tertiary hospital and check the structural integrity of the building.

The assessment of the PEO also included the facilities and medical equipment so that the local government can look for some means to replace them, said Degamo. (mbcn/JCT/PIA-Negros Oriental)