Baguio City (CNN Philippines, April 17) — A hospital in Baguio City that has been closed for over a decade reopened as a treatment facility exclusive for patients afflicted by the deadly COVID-19.
City officials led by Mayor Benjamin Magalong visited the Sto. Niño Jesus Medical Center in Lower P. Burgos Street for a simple opening ceremony on Friday. The hospital stopped operations back in 2009.
Operations, however, will not start until May 11 as preparations, such as acquisition of medical equipment and manpower, are underway, said Dr. Paul Quitiquit, medical director of Saint Louis Hospital Medical. Center. The city government is working with Saint Louis Hospital of Sacred Heart, Baguio General Hospital and Medical Center, Pines City Medical Center and Notre Dame De Chartes Hospital to manage the facility.
Dr. Willy Occidental, the appointed hospital administrator, said the city government will hire employees and provide the food and needs of the patients in coordination with the Department of Health.
The hospital can accommodate over 50 patients with COVID-19 symptoms, Quitiquit added, while at least 30 staff members, including nurses and transport aid, will be on duty.
The Department of Public Works and Highways in Cordillera also deployed workers to conduct repairs.
Police trainees also led a clean-up of the building with the help of the Environment and Parks Management Office, Tourism Operations Office and the Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office.
During the opening ceremony, the city mayor met with the owners of the unused hospital, who allowed the government to use the facility for free and have it transformed into an exclusive hospital for all COVID-19 cases in the country’s summer capital.
