SEVEN days after its formal launching in Puerto Princesa City, the Department of Health-Mimaropa (Oriental/Occidental Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon and Palawan) air ambulance airlifted two emergency patients from the island municipalities of Cuyo and Balabac in Palawan on March 19 and 20, respectively.
Regional Director Eduardo C. Janairo said one of the patients was a 41-year-old female suffering from G6PD preeclampsia and already in labor from Manamoc Island, one of the farthest islands of the Cuyo Archipelago.
She was flown at 5 p.m to the Cuyo District Hospital, arriving there at 6 p.m. and was immediately treated and stabilized. The patient delivered by normal birth her baby at 12 midnight.
The next day, the air ambulance proceeded to Balabac Island to retrieve a 69-year-old male patient suffering from peptic ulcer and was already bleeding when brought to the MMG-PPC Cooperative Hospital in Puerto Princesa City.
“We will be expecting more patients to be airlifted in the coming days because we have provided a way for our indigent and indigenous communities to avail of their right to primary health,” Janairo said.
Janairo stressed that no patient should die just because he/she doesn’t have access to a health facility.
“With this air ambulance program, we are hoping to save more lives,” he said.
Janairo added that patients who may avail of the free emergency medical service are those who are seriously injured, and requiring immediate treatment, with severe trauma cases and those who suffer from mild to severe stroke.
“Patients that need to be airlifted will be assessed by their attending physician who will then coordinate with the Provincial DoH Office in Puerto Princesa City for the immediate evacuation of the patient to a tertiary hospital,” he said.
The air ambulance service may also be used to transport blood products for patients needing immediate blood transfusion.
Janairo said the PDOHO Emergency Unit is open 24/7, and is manned by Dr. Peter Hew G. Curameng, to cater to patients in need of air transport. Emergency numbers can be contacted are Smart (0998) 5492585 and Globe (0917) 533-1651.
Due to the limited landing sites in most islands of Palawan, Pamas has been using an R44 Helicopter for quicker response and would only need a small landing area. It uses an average of 40 liters of gasoline per hour compared to the Cessna 206 Plane which consumes around 56 liters per hour.
“The air ambulance program was inspired by President Duterte’s zeal in providing primary care to our indigents who have less access to health care. Those who have less in life deserve to have more benefit from the government for them to improve their lives,” Janairo said.