By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

The Negros Occidental provincial government is ready to assist the Alfredo E. Marañon, Sr. Memorial District Hospital (AEMSMDH) in Sagay City after it was forced to temporarily suspend patients’ admissions due to full capacity over the weekend.

Provincial administrator Atty. Rayfrando Diaz said they have reached out to the management of the district hospital and stated that they are ready to assist if needed.

Diaz pointed out the AEMSMDH is run by the city government of Sagay.

In a social media post, the local government unit said the AEMSMDH has temporarily suspended any new admissions, with the exception of patients with extreme emergency cases, after all 70 beds were occupied.

Most of those admitted were reported to be ill with pneumonia and gastroenteritis.

According to the announcement, the number of patients coming into the hospital’s emergency room has greatly increased.

As a result, the triage tent and all of its wards were fully occupied.

The hospital has already released an advisory to the public to look for other alternative hospitals in the area.

The nearest alternative government-run hospital in the area is the Vicente Gustilo District Hospital in Escalante City, as well as the Cadiz District Hospital, which also acts as the provincial government’s primary COVID-19 treatment facility./DGB, WDJ