by Noel Baguio
The much-awaited sea ambulance has finally arrived in the Island Garden City of Samal.
The sea ambulance, a 25-person capacity ferry which will be equipped with emergency facilities and supplies could withstand inclement weather conditions and waves.
Gov. Rodolfo Del Rosario, who provided P1 million to build the boat, led the launching of the sea ambulance last September 15, 2009 at the Kinawitnon wharf, Babak District, Island Garden City of Samal.
He said this is a fulfillment of the long-time request of the people for a reliable less expensive conveyance for referred patients in emergency situations.
“The people of the Island Garden City of Samal had been asking for such an ambulance and now the Provincial Government has fulfilled its promise to provide one,” the governor said.
He added this is in line with his administration’s thrust of enhancing the delivery of basic health services, especially to those indigent patients who need immediate referral to public tertiary hospitals in the region.
The province operates a district hospital in the island city. But, due to budgetary constraints, the hospital lacks crucial state-of-the-art equipment and facilities needed to effectively deal with terrible traumas and other cases that require immediate medical/surgical attention.
A local official revealed some experiences before where certain patients that were referred from rural health centers to tertiary hospitals in Davao City who were denied of immediate medical/surgical attention because of high cost of hiring a private or passenger vessel.
The Island City Government of Samal and the district hospital operate several ambulance units. But, he said transporting the patient by land could drag since getting across into the mainland is totally dependent on the availability of ferry boats plying across the channel.
Provincial Administrator Rufo Peligro said the delivery of basic health service by the availability of a sea ambulance will bring back the sense of well-being in the people’s health consciousness.
He added the government-owned vessel will provide a less expensive conveyance for referred emergency patients, which significantly reduce the mortality rate that is directly or indirectly caused by the lack of money and immediate vessels.
After its blessing, the governor boarded the boat on its maiden voyage going to Punta Azul Beach Resort. He was joined by resort owner and Davao Region Tourism Council Chair Araceli Ayuste, Vice Mayor Orly Amit, Davao Regional Hospital Chief Dr. Romulo Busuego, Provincial Administrator Rufo Peligro, Provincial General Services Officer Sammy Sanchez, and Samal District Hospital Dr. Roselito Antonio Patricio, and the governor’s son Rodney, among other local officials.
