PAGCOR spruces up Tondo Medical Center and reaches out to the hospital’s indigent patients
Wednesday | December 19, 2012 | 3:30 PM
Indigent patients confined at the Tondo Medical Center will now have more comfortable place to undergo treatment and recover from their illnesses after the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) chose the health institute as the 20th day of its “Bayanihan: Pamaskong Handog 2012”.
PAGCOR Assistant Vice President for Community Relations Department Henry Reyes (4th from left) led the turn-over of hospital equipment and furniture to Tondo Medical Center Director Victor dela Cruz (3rd) during PAGCOR’s 20th day of Pamaskong Handog 2012. The event was held at the covered court of said hospital. Also in the photo are (from left) Casino Filipino Hyatt OIC Tomas Consolacion, Jr., DOH-Center for Health Development Executive Assistant Dang Tayag and Casino Filipino Heritage Branch Manager Arthur Malatag.
The state-gaming firm funded the renovation of the hospital’s surgical ward and donated hospital beds with mattresses, bedside tables, cardiac monitor, pulse oximeter, ECG machines, cautery machine, suction machine, 28 units of wall fans, and two emergency carts.
Close to P2.5 million was allocated by PAGCOR for the gift-giving event at the TMC.
PAGCOR also hosted a Christmas party at the hospital’s covered court and distributed Christmas gift packs to some 100 indigent patients and staff during the said activity. The event was spearheaded by Casino Filipino Hyatt Officer-in-Charge Tomas Consolacion who said that Christmas is a time for sharing and giving hope to others, especially those who have less in life.
“Nandito po kami para maipaabot ang tulong ng PAGCOR ngayong kapaskuhan. Sa panahon po ng kahirapan, nawa’y magsilbi po kaming simbolo ng pag-asa sa inyo. Kami ay nagpapasalamat sa inyo at pinaunlakan ninyo kaming maghandog sa inyo ng tulong. Ngayon pong patapos na ang aming Pamaskong Handog 2012, sana’y nakapaghatid kami ng saya at tuwa ngayong taon,” Consolacion said.
According to TMC Surgery Department Senior House Officer Dr. Jesus Maniago, the renovation of the surgical ward will help the hospital continuously provide quality medical care to more patients, especially those who come from poor families. “The Surgery Department handles about 1,200 to 1,500 operations a year, which include major and minor operations. It also handles about 12,000 to 13,000 out-patient-department consultations and 6,000 to 7,000 Emergency Room consultations,” he cited.
Surgical patient John Patrick Ungap of Tondo Medical Center receives a Christmas gift from Casino Filipino Hyatt Branch Manager Emily Padua during the 20th day of Pamaskong Handog 2012 held at the covered court of said hospital. The gift-giving event was led by Casino Filipino Hyatt Officer-in-Charge Tomas Consolacion. Sixty indigent patients and 20 support staff of the Tondo Medical Center benefited from the event.
TMC Director Dr. Victor Dela Cruz said there are many indigent patients who are undergoing treatment in their hospital. Although they are doing their best to provide them with quality medical services, the hospital facilities also age over time.
Dela Cruz was thankful for making their institution a part of PAGCOR’s Pamaskong Handog this year. “Kami ay nagpapasalamat at tatanawin naming malaking utang na loob ang inyong magandang tulong na ito. Marami itong mararating, lalo na sa mga kababayan nating nangangailangan,” said dela Cruz.
Eighteen-year old Rancy Mae Ungap, whose husband just underwent appendectomy last December 16, 2012, was grateful that PAGCOR reached out to the hospital’s patients this Christmas season.
Her 18-year-old husband, John Patrick, who works as a chicken vendor only earns P100 a day. But due to his condition, they have no means of livelihood and only rely on the help of her father-in-law who is generous enough to take care of them while her husband waits for his full recovery. “Malaking bagay po ang anumang tulong mula sa inyo dahil sa hirap po ng buhay. Umabot napo ng P12,000 lahat an gaming bayarin. Nangutang na lamang po kami sa amo ng tatay ng asawa ko,” shared Ungap.
Though she wants to find employment, she also has to look after her husband. Besides, Ungap is also pregnant. “Bilang housewife, wala din po kaming ibang pagkukunan sa mga gastusin dito sa ospital. Six months pregnant na rin po ako kaya malaking tulong po talaga kung anuman ang aming matatanggap.”
Established in 1971, Tondo Medical Center (formerly known as Tondo General Hospital) is a non-profit public institution whose primary objective is to provide free in-patient and out-patient medical care to residents of Tondo districts as well as nearby communities.
Among the services offered by the hospital are Internal Medicine, Pediatrics, Obstetrics Gynecology, Surgery, Anesthesiology, Orthopedics, Ophthalmology, Otorhinolaryngology (Ear, Nose, Throat), Head and Neck Surgery, Radiology/Ultrasonography, Operating Room Services, Pathology, Clinical and Laboratory. The hospital also offers x-ray services and ambulance service. It also has an in-house emergency response unit, a hospital disaster response team and 24-hour emergency care service.