UP-PGH inaugurates COVID-19 isolation facility

News | by ZFF Admin

The University of the Philippines-Philippine General Hospital (UP-PGH) now has a state-of-the-art isolation facility ideal for handling COVID-19 cases and other infectious diseases. The inauguration of the “Bayanihan Na! Isolation Unit” held earlier today was attended by donors, including the Zuellig Family Foundation (ZFF), the Bureau of Fire Protection, TikTok Philippines, and St. Luke’s Medical Center.

Project Kaagapay
The Foundation donated ₱21 million for the construction (P15 million) and other medical equipment (P6 million). The $21 million was part of the ZFF’s ₱60-million donation to the Project Kaagapay: Protect our Health Care Heroes, a fundraiser of the Philippine Disaster for Resilience Foundation, Zuellig Pharma Corp., Metro Drug Inc., ABS-CBN, and Go Negosyo. The fundraiser has provided personal protective equipment (PPE), ventilators, and other essential medical equipment to help the government hospitals and their front liners respond to the COVID-19 pandemic.

State of the art
As a COVID-19 referral facility, UP-PGH had to temporarily stop admitting non-COVID-19 patients and walk-ins amid the surge due to the Delta variant. UP-PGH accepts only COVID-19 cases with a referral from a hospital or the local government and emergencies and life-threatening cases.

With the new 570-square meter isolation ward, an additional four wards with a 44-bed capacity, including an Intensive Care Unit (ICU) capable ward with 11 beds, will now be available for COVID-19 patients at UP-PGH. The ICU ward was named Zuellig ICU Ward as UP-PGH’s expression of gratitude.

The COVID-19 isolation ward uses a negative pressure ventilation system that prevents potentially contaminated air or other dangerous particles from inside the room from flowing outside into non-contaminated areas. The ventilation ducts are fitted with ultraviolet (UV) light sterilizers and high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters that clean the air before it is pumped outside and away from the healthcare facility. There are also air pocket chambers that protect the personnel from the virus even without wearing PPE.

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