KOTA KINABALU: Medical services at a central Philippines city devastated by Typhoon Haiyan are slowly returning to normal, thanks to the Malaysian Medical Relief Society (Mercy Malaysia).
The NGO has deployed a field hospital within the grounds of the severely damaged Ormoc District Hospital.
Mercy team member Dr Cheah Phee Kheng (pic) said the field hospital was functioning as an outpatient department as well as a temporary emergency department while the original hospital was being repaired.
He said all that was left of the 100-bed Ormoc hospital after the typhoon, which struck on Nov 7, was its emergency unit.
Despite that, patients from more devastated areas such as Tacloban city, which is about 100km away, have been coming to Ormoc for medical treatment.
“All the wards, including the operating theatre, delivery suites and neonatal intensive care units, were destroyed.
“The only department that could function was the emergency department, which became the centre of all activities.
“Patients were placed along the corridors and hospital lobby,” Dr Cheah said, adding that Mercy had deployed four doctors who had so far treated more than 250 patients.
He said some very ill patients from the interior areas arrived at the hospital by tricycle.
Mercy vice-president Norazam Samah said the NGO would also help in the reconstruction of the Ormoc hospital, beginning with the replacement of the roof.
“As it is a double-storey building, water collects on the second floor and leaks when it rains heavily,” said Norazam, an architect by profession.
Mercy would also be involved in rebuilding the male, female and paediatric wards.
Donations can be channelled to the Mercy Humanitarian Fund, MBB 562179504126 Swift Code: MBBEMYKLA. Mercy Malaysia can be contacted at 03-2273-3999. For online donations, visit www.mercy.org.my.
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