By ANJANETTE VILLAMOR
Correspondent/
AN ailing man was forced to commute, using public transportation, from the Camiguin General Hospital in Mambajao to the JR Borja Memorial General Hospital here because of the provincial government’s failure to provide him an ambulance.
The patient, 63-year old “habal-habal” driver Odell Navarro, was rushed to the governmentun Camiguin hospital after he vomited blood and collapsed in his home in Guinsiliban town two weeks ago.
His wife Nena said a physician at the Camiguin hospital, Dr. Gerry Cubalang, diagnosed Navarro with acute peptic ulcer, and there was a need for him to undergo blood transfusion.
She said the doctor also advised that Navarro be transferred to Cagayan de Oro after they waited for two days for a blood donation at the Camiguin hospital.
Nena complained that the provincial government of Camiguin failed to provide them with an ambulance.
She said they were told that they needed to secure a travel clearance first from Camiguin Gov. Ma. Luisa Romualdo.
Nena said they were also asked to pay two nurses and a driver P1,500 each as “professional fees,” and shoulder the fuel expenses.
She said they agreed to shoulder the costs but the problem was that the clearance from the governor never came.
Nena said her family was forced to bring their sick to Cagayan de Oro without an ambulance — they opted to take public transportation.
At the JR Borja Memorial General Hospital, the Navarros blamed partisan politics over the Camiguin provincial government’s failure to provide them proper medical services.
Nena said her family is known to have not supported the gubernatorial bid of Ms. Romualdo in the last elections.
“Residents of Camiguin know each other, including politicians’ supporters. You will easily be identified,” said Nena.
Her husband has just been discharged from the city hallun hospital here after a successful blood transfusion. His physician, internist Cherry Vicente, advised him to rest at home.
But the family opted to bring Navarro to a relative’s home in Patag, this city, than back to Camiguin where they no longer trust the provincial government to take care of them.
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