TACLOBANCITY-The Tacloban City Hospital after almost five months of reconstruction undertaken by SM Foundation Inc. (SMFI)was recently inaugurated. The hospital is among the medical facilities chosen by the foundation for rehabilitation to support government efforts at rebuilding devastated facilities during Super typhoon Yolanda. The total rebuilding of the hospital was done in two phases: the Out-Patient Department, with a floor area of 248 sq. meters and the Main Building with a floor area of 1,632sq. m.

According to Connie Angeles, SMFI executive director for Health and Medical Programs, the Tacloban City Hospital caters to more than 138 barangays and 100 patients daily. Thus, from a 50-bed capacity hospital, its bed capacity has been increased to 100, with the addition of a Malnutrition Ward, the expansion of the Emergency Room and the reactivation of a ward that is on standby during outbreaks and epidemics.

Likewise, a Felicidad T. Sy Wellness Center for Children and a Center for the Elderly have been added.

Construction materials had to be shipped from Manila because of shortage in Tacloban and neighboring municipalities. Furthermore, Angeles wanted 80 percent of the work force to come from Leyte but with few takers as many of them were either victims or, of the few remaining manpower component of the city, there were other job offers. So aside from the materials, SM Engineering had to bring workers all the way from Manila.

Furniture, hospital beds and other basic medical equipment have been shipped to Tacloban to augment meager existing equipment and replace those that were severely damaged by the typhoon. From a Level 1 hospital, it has now been upgraded to Level 2 under the Department of Health’s Hospital Capability Levels so surgical procedures on a larger scope can be performed.

The rehabilitation of the city’s hospital was made possible through the partnership of the SMFIand the city government of Tacloban. The Office of the Presidential Adviser for Reconstruction and Rehabilitation (OPARR) has been closely monitoring the projects of the foundation, which include, among others the Tabontabon Health Center, the Tolosa Health Center,; Western Samar Rural Health Unit, Basey, Samar; Ajuy Rural Health Unit, Iloilo; Northern Cebu Rural Health Unit, Bogo City, Cebu; Capiz Rural Health Unit; Aklan Rural Health Unit; Antique Rural Health Unit; Zamboanga Rural Health Unit; Butuan Rural Health Unit, Agusan del Norte; and La Trinidad Health Unit.

The reconstruction had created a ripple effect from various donors. There were donors of two ambulances from the World Surgical Foundation, headed by Dr. Lester Suntay of the Makati Medical Center; hospital beds from Germany, medicines, supplies and even the landscaping, which was undertaken by the Zonta Club of Tacloban.