Let us not be selfish.
This was the message of Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson to those opposing the designation of the Valeriano Gatuslao Memorial District Hospital in Himamaylan City as an additional COVID-19 hospital in Negros Occidental.
“What if we do not have a single COVID-19 hospital? What will happen to you if you get hit by COVID?” Lacson asked the critics, who reportedly blamed 5th District Board Member Ernesto Agustin Bascon for not taking steps to oppose the designation.
The COVID-designated hospitals in Cadiz City and Valladolid are now 98 to 100 percent occupied.
“What if we do not allow Cadiz and Valladolid hospitals as COVID centers? What if the private hospitals, or even Corazon Locsin Montelibano Memorial Regional Hospital, close their doors to COVID patients? What will happen to us?” Lacson stressed.
If the city of Cadiz and the municipality of Valladolid opened their hospitals to be COVID centers, why not other areas? he said.
“I just hope that these critics will not be infected with COVID, and they will be treated at the Valeriano Gatuslao Memorial District Hospital. I wish that they don’t get hit,” Lacson said.
As of last week, the 51-bed VGMDH had nine COVID patients.
Lacson said the hospital will cater to COVID-19 patients from southern Negros.
Because there is limited COVID beds, the governor said the decision was made to choose VGMDH since its occupancy rate is very low and it is nearest to Valladolid.
“The reason why we opened up Cadiz and Valladolid is the same on why we opened the Himamaylan District Hospital. Let us not be selfish. Let us open the hospitals to all Negrenses,” Lacson said.
As to claims that cases in Himamaylan might increase due to the establishment of a COVID center there, he said, “There is no way that you get infected. People who go to the hospital are sick and need to be treated. And that is exactly what we are doing.”
Lacson clarified that he has not heard of any report that there are officials of Himamaylan City opposing the opening up of the hospital to accommodate COVID patients.
He stressed that it is advantageous to Himamaylanons if they will get infected, as they will be brought there and not in Cadiz or Bacolod City. – GB
