TACLOBAN CITY — The Eastern Visayas Medical Center (EVMC) here has restored its capacity to produce medical oxygen on-site, more than a decade after its previous oxygen-generating facility was destroyed by Super Typhoon ‘Yolanda’ in 2013.
The regional hospital received a new Oxygen Generating Plant (OGP) through additional support from The Global Fund’s COVID-19 Response Mechanism, strengthening its capacity to maintain a reliable supply of medical oxygen.
The Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP), through its ACCESS TB Project, formally turned over the facility to EVMC during a ceremony held at the hospital’s Bagacay Administrative Building on Sept.25.
Since the destruction of its previous facility, EVMC had relied on external suppliers to meet its medical oxygen requirements.
The new OGP can refill approximately 300 oxygen cylinders daily, providing the hospital with a more sustainable oxygen supply while improving operational efficiency and preparedness for future public health emergencies.
Representatives from PBSP, the Department of Health-Eastern Visayas Center for Health Development and EVMC attended the turnover ceremony, highlighting the importance of partnerships in strengthening healthcare services in the region.
Following the turnover, PBSP through the ACCESS TB Project conducted a three-day training program for EVMC personnel to support the safe and sustainable operation of the new facility.
The training involved 35 engineering, technical and administrative personnel who participated in technical discussions, equipment demonstrations and hands-on exercises covering the operation and maintenance of the OGP.
According to PBSP, the participants were trained on the plant’s major components and functions, standard operating procedures, preventive maintenance, operational protocols and basic troubleshooting.
The training is expected to equip EVMC personnel with the skills needed to safely operate, monitor, maintain and troubleshoot the facility and ensure continuous medical oxygen production.
The new oxygen-generating facility is expected to strengthen EVMC’s readiness to respond to patients’ oxygen requirements and future public health emergencies while reducing its dependence on external oxygen suppliers.
(ROEL T. AMAZONA)
