(MB FILE PHOTO)
The Department of Health (DOH) announced on Tuesday, August 12, that it has added eight more hospitals to its list of facilities with Leptospirosis Fast Lanes, bringing the total to 27 across the country.
“Bilang tugon sa patuloy na banta ng leptospirosis, mas pinadami pa ng Department of Health ang bilang ng mga DOH hospital na may Leptospirosis Fast Lanes (In response to the continuing threat of leptospirosis, the Department of Health has increased the number of DOH hospitals with Leptospirosis Fast Lanes),” the said agency said.
Per the health department, these fast lanes provide rapid assessment for patients exposed to floodwaters to determine whether they require hospital admission or can be treated as outpatients.
The program began on August 9 with 19 hospitals in Metro Manila:
1. San Lorenzo Ruiz General Hospital
2. East Avenue Medical Center
3. Quirino Memorial Medical Center
4. Dr. Jose N. Rodriguez Memorial Hospital and Sanitarium
5. Dr. Jose Fabella Memorial Hospital
6. Philippine Orthopedic Center
7. San Lazaro Hospital
8. Valenzuela Medical Center
9. Tondo Medical Center
10. Las Piñas General Hospital and Satellite Trauma Center
11. Amang Rodriguez Memorial Medical Center
12. Rizal Medical Center
13. Jose R. Reyes Memorial Medical Center
14. National Children’s Hospital
15. National Center for Mental Health
16. Lung Center of the Philippines
17. National Kidney and Transplant Institute
18. Philippine Children’s Medical Center
19. Research Institute for Tropical Medicine
The eight newly added hospitals are:
20. Ilocos Training and Regional Medical Center
21. Region 1 Medical Center
22. Jose B. Lingad Memorial General Hospital
23. Bataan General Hospital
24. Mariveles Mental Hospital
25. Paulino J. Garcia Memorial Research and Medical Center
26. Talavera General Hospital
27. Batangas Medical Center
“Sa mga fast lanes na ito, mabilis na natutukoy ang risk level ng pasyente at ang kanyang kinakailangang medical intervention (In these fast lanes, the patient’s risk level and required medical intervention are quickly identified),” the agency stated.
From June 8 to August 7, a total of 2,396 leptospirosis cases were recorded nationwide, according to DOH data.
On August 4, the Philippine General Hospital (PGH) reported its emergency room was over capacity due to a surge of patients, including leptospirosis cases.
The World Health Organization (WHO) said that leptospirosis is transmitted through direct contact with the urine of infected animals or contaminated environments, entering the body through skin cuts or mucous membranes.
If untreated, the disease can cause kidney damage, meningitis, liver failure, respiratory distress, and death, it warned.