The provincial government of Eastern Samar has acquired eight new high-end ambulances to boost medical emergency response amid coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic.
Governor Ben Evardone led the blessing and turnover ceremony on Tuesday at the capitol grounds in Borongan City, the provincial capital.
“We can finally use them although there was a delay because we have to make sure that these ambulances are fully-equipped with the specifications of the Department of Health (DOH),” Evardone said in his message.
The Eastern Samar Provincial Hospital received two units, while the district hospitals in the towns of Arteche, Oras, and Taft each received one ambulance.
One unit each was also intended for Felipe Abrigo Memorial Hospital in Guiuan, Albi Duran Memorial Hospital in Balangiga, and the provincial governor’s office.
The DOH-accredited ambulances are equipped with automatic external defibrillator, nebulizer, examining light, an aneroid sphygmomanometer, folding and scoop stretcher, heavy-duty stethoscopes, non-contact thermometer, and blood glucose meter.
Each unit also has a manual resuscitator, portable suction machine, oxygen cylinder with oxygen therapy set, endotracheal tubes, laryngoscopes and delivery sets, heavy-duty LED flashlight, and fire extinguisher.
“I must admit our hospitals are not ready in terms of equipment, facilities, and manpower. We have been improving our school facilities complete with computer sets and other instructional materials, so why not our hospitals as well,” Evardone said.
He reminded the chief of hospitals that the ambulances must be exclusively used for patients in public health care facilities for free.
The provincial government will allocate budget for the gasoline, lubricants, and other maintenance expenses of each unit, Evardone said.
In order to maximize the minimum resources, those old ambulances will be pulled out and distributed to community hospitals with no ambulance.
“We want to establish modern hospitals in the province. We have to improve them, so we become ready for any eventualities,” he said.
Meanwhile, Eastern Samar remains free of the highly contagious Covid-19, DOH said. (PNA)