PAGCOR constructs halfway house for breastfeeding mothers at Fabella Hospital
Tuesday | December 18, 2012 | 12:30 PM
The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) turned over a newly constructed halfway house to the Dr. Jose Fabella Memorial Hospital in Manila to give indigent mothers who have just given birth at the said health facility a more comfortable place to breastfeed their babies.
PAGCOR President and COO Jorge Sarmiento (left) led the state-owned gaming firm’s Christmas gift-giving activity for indigent mothers whose babies are being cared for at the neo-natal intensive care unit (NICU) of the Dr. Jose Fabella Memorial Hospital. PAGCOR allocated close to P2.5 million for the construction a halfway house, purchase of various hospital supplies and furniture for the said government hospital.
The government hospital became PAGCOR’s beneficiary on the 19th day of the ongoing “Bayanihan: Pamaskong Handog ng PAGCOR 2012”. The state-owned gaming firm allocated around P1.6 million for the construction of the halfway house. The said facility will serve as a breastfeeding station for nursing mothers whose babies are confined at the Fabella Hospital’s neo-natal intensive care unit (NICU).
Apart from the halfway house, PAGCOR also donated two exhaust fans, five wall fans, five ceiling fans, 1,000 newborn screening kits, blankets and six units of three-seater sofas to the health facility. It also distributed Christmas gift packs to some 115 patients and support staff. PAGCOR spent close to P2.5 million for the conduct of its Pamaskong Handog event at the Fabella Hospital including the construction cost of the halfway house.
PAGCOR President and COO Jorge Sarmiento (3rd from left) and other PAGCOR officials were joined by Director Eduardo Janairo of the Center for Health Development of the Department of Health (2nd from right) and Dr. Ruben Flores of the Dr. Jose Fabella Memorial Hospital (right) during the inauguration of the PAGCOR-constructed halfway house at the government hospital. PAGCOR allocated P1.6 million for the construction of the facility which will serve as a temporary breastfeeding area for nursing mothers whose babies are confined at the Fabella Hospital’s neo-natal intensive care unit (NICU).
PAGCOR President and COO Jorge Sarmiento together with Director Eduardo Janairo of the Center for Health Development of the Department of Health (DOH) led the inauguration of the halfway house and the Christmas gift-giving at the hospital on December 18, 2012.
Sarmiento said this is PAGCOR’s third year of spreading joy to less privileged sectors during the Christmas season. “The Pamaskong Handog project was conceptualized by our Chairman Cristino Naguiat, Jr. in December 2010. We do this to help and share our blessings with the less fortunate. Masaya kami sa araw na ito dahil nabigyan kami ng pagkakataon na makisaya sa inyo dito sa Fabella Hospital ngayong panahon ng Kapaskuhan,” he added.
Nursing mothers at the Dr. Jose Fabella Memorial Hospital will have a more comfortable place where they can breastfeed their newborns after the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) constructed a halfway house for the hospital as part of the state-owned gaming firm’s Pamaskong Handog 2012 project. The state-gaming firm spent P1.6 million for the construction of the halfway house.
According to Director Eduardo Janairo of the DOH, PAGCOR chose the right beneficiary by helping the Dr. Jose Fabella Memorial Hospital. “I came here to represent DOH Secretary Enrique Ona and show our support and appreciation to PAGCOR’s project. Ito ang lugar kung saan nagmula ang buhay ng maraming Pilipino. Hindi natin lahat maibibigay ng libre dito. Pero sama-sama tayo sa pagtulong. Habang nandiyan ang PAGCOR, tayo ay patuloy na magtutulungan,” he cited.
The Dr. Jose Fabella Memorial Hospital, according to its Chief of Medical Professional Staff Dr. Jeffrey Leonardo does not have enough beds for its patients during peak season, specifically from September to December. Two to three mothers often share a bed in the 476-bed capacity hospital. Because of the hospital’s rooming-in policy, mothers whose sick or pre-term babies are confined at the NICU have to be beside their babies during breastfeeding sessions. Though this set-up increases the baby’s chances of survival, it however causes congestion in the wards and causes much discomfort to both the mothers and the babies. “We are thankful to PAGCOR for choosing Dr. Jose Fabella Memorial Hospital as a beneficiary of its Pamaskong Handog project. It will definitely be a big help to the patients whom we are trying to help also. It will greatly help the mothers who will benefit from this facility,” he said.
Mothers of pre-term babies confined at the Dr. Jose Fabella Memorial Hospital’s neo-natal intensive care units nurse their babies in a cramped breast feeding area. But this situation will be over soon after PAGCOR inaugurated its newly-constructed halfway house for the hospital’s breastfeeding mothers. The Dr. Jose Fabella Memorial Hospital was PAGCOR’s beneficiary on the 19th day of its Pamaskong Handog 2012.
Twenty one year-old Liezel Bayaton is just one of several mothers staying at the hospital months after having given birth to her firstborn. She remains at the health facility to breastfeed her pre-term baby who was born with an infection in the blood. The hospital would not release Bayaton’s baby, who is now nine months old, until the baby has been totally cured from her blood infection.
Though unemployed and abandoned by the father of her child after giving birth, Bayaton is thankful that the government hospital looks for ways to provide for the needs of her child who is still confined at the hospital’s NICU. She is also thankful to PAGCOR for constructing a halfway house for them.
“Magiging komportable po kami dito dahil mas maluwag at presko. Minsan kasi kapag mainit masyado sa breastfeeding area, naghahalo-halo yung amoy ng pawis ng mga nanay. Kailangan namin yung ganitong pasilidad para maiwasan ang paglala ng sakit at impeksyon ng aming mga anak,” Bayaton said.