CCMC conducts surgery, receives patients despite typhoon

DESPITE last Friday’s onslaught by typhoon Yolanda, government doctors successfully performed an appendectomy surgery and received seven admissions a day after they re-opened the Cebu City Medical Center (CCMC).

Dr. Gloria Duterte, CCMC chief, said they are operating a 100-bed facility at their temporary location at the Bureau of Fire Protection-Central Visayas (BFP-7) at Natalio Bacalso Avenue.

Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama ordered the CCMC vacated and its patients and hospital equipment transferred to the BFP building after government engineers declared the old hospital building unfit for occupancy.

But CCMC ceased accepting admissions two weeks ago to allow the renovation of the city fire department side of the BFP building which Rama ordered converted into a temporary hospital.

CCMC held a Mass last Thursday morning to re-open the temporary hospital to admissions when BFP-7 Regional Director Ma Luisa Hadjula asked for temporary occupancy of second floor offices as they prepared for typhoon Yolanda.

A confrontation ensued when the city’s demolition team tried to remove the beds and mattresses which BFP brought into CCMC offices.

Yolanda’s rains cooled off tensions between both parties as they agreed to continue their negotiations after the city recovers from the effects of the typhoon.

Duterte said she was happy that the Cebu City officials and some department heads gave their support when she dealt with Hadjula.

She was also happy that the CCMC resumed accepting admissions.

Councilor Mary Ann delos Santos, whom Mayor Rama tasked to help prepare the temporary hospital for city residents, said the BFP-7 placed the city “under siege.”

But she said the confrontation last Thursday was a “test of character” for all those involved.