Zamboanga City Medical center (ZCMC), the largest government hospital in the Zamboanga peninsula, is currently preparing its facilities for a possible influx of COVID-19 cases. Designated as the COVID referral center for the southwest region of Zamboanga peninsula, the ZCMC is facing the same problem it has always had: patient congestion.
As a level 3 hospital in Zamboanga hospital, ZCMC, cater not only to the need of the Zamboanga city, but most of the severe cases in (and outside) the Zamboanga peninsula. It is also the most worked spot, in cases of health related emergencies around Zamboanga. With its crisis trained personnel, down to the available facilities, we can say, that ZCMC is most prepared for any health crisis. Despite all this, the COVID19 outbreak still proves another kind of problem.
The COVID-19 is a highly contagious virus, worse still it is proven to be lethal among the immunocompromised and the physically weak. With the thousands of patients coming in and out hospital like ZCMC. If the situation in ZCMC is left unheeded, we are expecting an increase of cross contamination amongst patients, as well as its overly worked health personnel. At most, ZCMC must come up with practical measures to increase social distancing inside its hospital. A gargantuan task, considering the population of patents in the hospital.
In response to the looming crisis, the DOH region 9 intervened for the ZCMC, and decided to split the ZCMC’s hospital burden, by transferring its high-risk non-COVID patients, to the other hospitals. All Obstetric and Surgeries of ZCMC, from the west coast beyond, will be performed at the Labuan General Hospital (LGH), while obstetric and surgery cases of patient residing that the east coast, shall be done at the Mindanao Central Sanitarium (MCS).
But how prepared is the LGH for major surgery? Obstetrics? We are pleased to report, that our minor and major surgery rooms are fully operational, with most if not all, equipment readily available for many of the surgical and obstetric procedures needed. For the following weeks, surgeons and obstetricians from ZCMC, would therefore do their rounds from different hospitals. From the hospital family here at LGH, welcome doctors!
