CARIGARA, Leyte- Belgian philanthropist Patrick Haghedooren based in Southern Leyte provided a new multi-million worth of hospital equipment for the hospital and health centers in this town.
Haghedooren came with a 40-foot cargo containing donations of 30 hospital beds, delivery tables, mattresses, chairs, tables, sofas, cabinets, hospital staff uniforms and several other medical instruments to equip the local hospital.
All the items were donations from different hospitals in Belgium and were shipped to Leyte via Cebu.
The Belgian national has previously donated similar hospital equipment in Camotes Island and in some towns in Southern Leyte province.
This time, Haghedooren chose to help the Carigara District Hospital (CDH) and some health centers.
“I have seen for myself how lacking in equipment, even beds, some of (the) hospitals here.Patients have to lie in worn-out mattresses and rusty hospital beds,” Haghedooren said.
“I really hope these (equipment) will help patients recover faster and help hospitals in their service,” he added.
The 30 electronic hospital beds alone cost P 6 million, it was learned. Haghedooren usually brings in the medical equipment from Belgium at his own expense.
Haghedooren also said that additional donations of wheel chairs for the town are to be delivered soon.
Town Mayor Eduardo Ong extended his gratitude to the Belgian national saying these equipment will go a long way in furnishing community health centers in the town.
Ong pointed out that with maternal delivery now only allowed in hospitals and birthing centers, the donated equipment can be put into good use.
Meanwhile, Engr. Roque Aguilar, a local philanthropist who has been soliciting donations for CDH, said that the arrival of the hospital equipment is timely considering that its new wing is to open increasing its current 75-bed capacity.
CDH has been undergoing face-lifting and expansion after most of its buildings were destroyed during the onslaught of supertyphoon “Yolanda” in 2013. (AHLETTE C. REYES)
