THE Western Province Health and Medical Services (WPHMS) is proposing to allocate half of Gizo Hospital for COVID-19 patients.
WPHMS acting Director Dr Michael Belande Buin informed a meeting with the Western Provincial Government, Provincial Emergency Oversight Committee (PEOC), the National Disaster Management (NDMO) Gizo Office, yesterday (Friday 28th January).
Dr Buin said converting half of the hospital for COVID-19 patients is part of Gizo Hospital’s response plan to an expected COVID-19 community transmission in the province.
He said two units will be set up at the hospital, one to take care of general inpatients and the other to cater for COVID-19 patients.
“Our clinical team will be meeting again on Sunday (30th January) to finalise plans to divide the hospital with a COVID-19 Unit.
“Currently there are no patients coming in at the hospital.
“A good number of hospital nurses have already fully engaged with COVID-19 since the pandemic but more so during the last two weeks when seven positive cases were reported from crew members of LC Nusa Tupe,” Dr Buin said.
He said the WPHMS will also be working with Helena Goldie Hospital so that they have a similar plan in place.
However, he said the challenges faced by the health team now is limited resources, facilities and manpower.
By ULUTAH GINA
GIZO NEWS BUREAU
