City Government of Kidapawan strengthens health systems capacity, isolation and temporary treatment facilities now have 187 Covid-19 beds

NEWS | 2021/02/11 | LKRO

Kidapawan City (February 5, 2021) – The City Government of Kidapawan through Kidapawan City Hospital (KCH) Chief Dr. Hamir Hechanova reported a total of 187 Covid-19 hospital beds are now in place at the different isolation facilities and Temporary Treatment and Monitoring Facility (TTMF) in the city.

This is part of the City Government’s continuous effort to further improve the capacity for Covid-19 response, according to Dr. Hechanova citing the significance of increasing the number of hospital beds with the rising number of cases in the city.

Kidapawan City Hospital Covid-19 Treatment Facility taking the lead in admitting and monitoring Covid-19 positive cases under the One Hospital Command Center policy has 50 beds; while private hospitals such as Kidapawan City Doctors Hospital, Inc. (KDHI) has 20; Kidapawan Medical Specialists Center, Inc. (KMSCI) 20, Midway Hospital Kidapawan, Inc. 13; and Madonna Medical Center, Inc. 12. The newly converted isolation facilities Double R Placeand Dizon Hospital has 20 beds and 16 beds, respectively now ready for occupancy.

“Indigent patients are given priority in the said hospitals especially the Kidapawan City Hospital. At present, the Disease Severity Capability of all the city’s isolation and TTMF is at a moderate level”, said Dr. Hechanova.

In addition, the City Gymnasium is now converted into an isolation facility with a 36 Covid-19 bed capacity and will be a big boost in the response to Covid-19 cases in the city. 

There is an existing agreement between the Kidapawan City Hospital and the private hospitals to first utilize the beds of KCH but in the event the hospital reaches the high-risk bed capacity, the private hospitals and other TTMF will now have the responsibility to accept or admit their patients or those individuals who had first sought the help of private hospitals.

Meanwhile, Kidapawan City Mayor Joseph A. Evangelista said the City Government is all-out in supporting the isolation and treatment facilities by strengthening the Covid-19 response and the whole health system capacity of front liners. 

“We do not hesitate to pour our resources for we know the possible effects if we put a halt in our Covid-19 response. Figures of Covid-19 infections might go up or down and we cannot afford to reduce our course of action to fight the disease.” Said Mayor Evangelista.

The Local Chief Executive is optimistic that despite the rise of Covid-19 positive cases in the city, the city’s pro-active measures will eventually yield good results and improve the situation.

Apart from the bed capacity, Mayor Evangelista highlighted the other measures taken to support the campaign against Covid-19 such as the upcoming new Covid-19 Molecular Laboratory where RT-PCR tests for local patients will be done in a fast and accurate manner, continued Information Education Campaign on the minimum health protocols, free issuance of Covid-19 Contact Tracing System/QR Code for the residents of the city and other endeavors aimed to protect the constituents and attain a disease -free community. (CIO_AJPME/JSCJ)