Iloilo hospitals receive tents from Rotary

By Joseph B.A. Marzan

Hospital tents and other necessary equipment donated by various Rotary Clubs in partnership with the Philippine Red Cross-Iloilo Chapter were turned over to the Iloilo provincial government on Nov. 11.

The donations include 3 sets of the following equipment for three hospitals under the provincial government:

• 2 units Air Purifying Respirator;
• 400 sets Hazmat Suit;
• 4000 pieces KN-95 protective face mask;
• 100 boxes disposable Nitrile Hand Gloves;
• 2000 pieces protective face shield;
• 10 pairs white rubber boots;
• 1 new power generating set 20 KVA with trailer;
• 1 unit 72 multi-purpose tent;
• 30 units folding cot bed;
• 90 pieces cot bed sheet cover;
• 30 pieces pillow;
• 1 unit 3-tonner air conditioning unit split-type floor mounted with electrical connection; and
• 60 meters insulation liner.

These were donated through Rotary Club of Metro Iloilo using the Global Grant of the Rotary Foundation of Rotary International (RI).

The Donghae Rotary Club of RI District 3730 was the main international sponsor, with support from the Jeonju-Jeonil Rotary Club (RI District 3670), Jinju Jeil Rotary Club (RI District 3590), Gwangju-Shinchang Rotary Club (RI District 3730), Donghae Haesong Rotary Club (RI District 3730), and Rotary Club of Iloilo South (RI District 3850).

Iloilo Governor Arthur Defensor Jr., a member of the Rotary Club of Iloilo South, said that these were good additions to the province’s COVID response strategy.

He reiterated his strategy of taking advantage of the current “COVID lull” in the province for any surge that may happen in the coming months.

“We are taking advantage of [these donations] for any [COVID] surge that will come. I want to reiterate to keep [COVID] as far away as possible, so we can have additional capacity when we increase our [provincial] hospitals’ bed capacity. We are not out of trouble, that is why we are here,” the governor said during the turnover.

These donations will be used by three hospitals: the Ramon D. Duremdes District Hospital in Dumangas, Ramon Tabiana Memorial District Hospital in Cabatuan, and Don Valerio Palmares Memorial District Hospital in Passi City.