Bangsamoro Gov’t turns over medical equipment to Maguindanao hospitals

COTABATO CITY - To strengthen its efforts and capacity in combating the ongoing health crisis, the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) provided complete sets of mechanical ventilators to government hospitals across the region.

Atty. Naguib Sinarimbo, minister of the Interior and Local Government (MILG) and Dr. Amirel Usman, officer in charge minister of Health (MOH) led the turnover of complete sets of two mechanical ventilators to Maguindanao Provincial Hospital and Datu Blah Sinsuat (DBS) District Hospital in Upi, Maguindanao.

Maguindanao provincial health officer Dr. Elizabeth Samama and chief of DBS district hospital Dr. Michael Macion personally received the said machines in a turnover ceremony on Monday, Dec. 21, inside the Bangsamoro Government Center in Cotabato City.

The BARMM Government, through its Bangsamoro Rapid Emergency Action on Disaster Incidence (READi), provided the said ventilators and will soon provide the same to five other hospitals.

Provincial health officer Dr. Elizabeth Samama and DBS district Chief of Hospital Dr. Michael Macion personally received the said machines.

Atty. Sinarimbo said the turnover of ventilators forms part of the region’s effort to continually increase hospitals’ capacity to respond to the demands of the Corona Virus Disease 2019 (Covid-19).

"We will try to work together with the Ministry of Health to bring about increased focus in the health facilities of these hospitals as well as personnel," Atty. Sinarimbo added.

The BARMM-READi is the region’s disaster risk reduction management operation center attached to the MILG-BARMM.

Sinarimbo, who also heads the BARMM-READi, said these hospitals include Dr. Serapio Montañer, Al Hadj Memorial Hospital in Malabang, Lanao del Sur, Amai Pakpak Medical Center in Marawi City, Lamitan District Hospital in Lamitan City, Basilan, Integrated Provincial Health Office - Sulu in Jolo, Sulu, and Datu Halun Sakilan Memorial Hospital in Tawi-tawi shall also receive the same medical equipment in the next few days.

Dr. Usman, on the other hand, said the turnover corresponds to what the Department of Health (DOH) and World Health Organization (WHO) have projected about expected rise of Covid-19 cases in middle January.

"Ito pong ginagawa natin ay mga paghahanda po sa maaaring pagtaas ng kaso sa rehiyon," Usman said.

Dr. Samama emphasized IPHO-Maguindanao’s support to the regional government, noting "We would really try to uphold the call for moral governance of the Bangsamoro Government." 

Dr. Macion expressed his gratitude to the Bangsamoro Government. "I know this is just the beginning, the efforts we have done in the hospital have finally been recognized," Dr. Macion said.

Aside from the ventilators, MOH also provided medical and hygiene supplies containing surgical gloves, facemaks, face shields, alcohol, and air purifier, among others.

Atty. Sinarimbo and Dr. Usman are also planning to go to the Island provinces to provide the same services. (Bangsamoro Information Office)