FOLLOWING the detection of its first two cases of Covid-19 Delta variant, the Provincial Government of Davao Oriental is planning to set up a medical oxygen plant as it braces for a possible surge of cases within the province.
Davao Oriental Provincial Health Officer Dr. Reden Bersaldo said during the Department of Health (DOH)-Davao virtual presser on Monday, August 16, that this was discussed by the Provincial Government in a recent meeting.
Bersaldo said Governor Nelson Dayanghirang, along with the mayors, approved the construction of an oxygen manufacturing plant in the province.
He said they are currently preparing for the necessary requirements to the Food and Drug Administration for them to start the construction of the plant.
"Ang amoang ginakahadlukan gyud is mahutdan og oxygen ang atoang mga patients. So nag-identify mi karon og additional supplier for oxygen para in case mahutdan naa mi stockpile or buffer (We are worried that our patients may run out of oxygen [tanks]. So we identified additional suppliers for oxygen tanks so we can have a stockpile or buffer in case we ran out)," Bersaldo said.
The official said they already identified two suppliers and they are currently weighing on who can provide their demand supply.
Delta case in Davao Oriental
DOH-Davao announced on Sunday evening, August 15, the province's first Delta cases, all from Mati City.
The first patient was a 33-year-old male from Mati. He was swabbed and tested positive last July 10. The specimen was sent to Southern Philippines Medical Center (SPMC). He was tagged as recovered after finishing the prescribed isolation period. He is scheduled for a repeat swab test.
Another resident from Mati who tested positive for Delta is a 32-year-old female. She was swabbed and tested positive last July 10. The specimen was sent to SPMC. She was tagged as recovered after finishing the prescribed isolation period. She is scheduled for a repeat test.
For the past weeks, Bersaldo said he noted a surge of cases in the province, particularly in Mati.
The Davao Oriental Provincial Medical Center (DOPMC), like SPMC and Davao Regional Medical Center (DRMC), is also experiencing full capacity of patients brought about by the surge.
Bersaldo said the hospital's current bed capacities are not enough. He said DOPMC has 389 patients, wherein 42 percent are Covid-19 cases.
"If we are going to rely on the capacity of the hospital of DOPMC, which has an authorized bed capacity of 100, sobra-sobrang surge na gyud (this an overwhelming surge already)," the health official said.
The DOPMC expanded and maximized its facilities for severe and critical cases, he said.
With this, he said DOPMC has converted the whole third floor wing as Covid-19 facility.
He also said the province will be expanding its intensive care unit (ICU) beds and ward beds.
The province will also be setting up satellite isolation facilities to augment the demand for additional bed capacities.
Beginning Tuesday, August 17, one of the schools in Dahican, Mati will be converted into an isolation facility that will be housing 30 individual cases for mild and asymptomatic cases.
Bersaldo also said the local government had also identified additional isolation facilities such as hotels and inns, which are not in use due to the pandemic. He added this will be an additional 40 beds.
