MAASIN CITY (PIA) -- The Salvacion Oppus Yñiguez Memorial Provincial Hospital (SOYMPH) is now back to its original and spacious location in Barangay Dongon, a slightly interior barangay in this city.
The return came about almost two years after the facility sustained heavy destruction caused by Super Typhoon Odette on December 16, 2021, forcing the transfer of healthcare services to its old location in Brgy. Mantahan in the city proper, which suffered only minor damage.
“The newly renovated hospital was blessed and turned over on September 12, 2023,” the provincial government reported in its social media page, adding that the awaited moment was attended by provincial officials led by Gov. Damian Mercado, mayors, medical and health personnel, with Dr. Exuperia Sabalberino, regional director of the Department of Health 8, as guest speaker.
In her message during the turnover ceremony, Sabalberino pointed out the importance of unity to ensure that “all Southern Leyteños can access quality healthcare services,” while for his part, Gov. Mercado “commended the commitment of SOYMPH healthcare management and encouraged them to continue working hard in serving the people” of the province.
The provincial LGU had set aside P25 million, and another P50 million came from the DOH, for the massive rehabilitation works of SOYMPH, the provincial social media bureau (PSMB) said.
“Now the newly renovated hospital houses more than 100-bed capacity wards, with 56 private rooms and facilities that include an operating room, delivery room complex, an emergency room, a tertiary laboratory, a molecular laboratory, HIV-AIDS Treatment Hub, Covid Facility, and X-ray and ultrasound rooms,” the PSMB posted.
According to the Chief Nurse of SOYMPH, Lyndo Calva, the old SOYMPH in Brgy Mantahan will stop accepting admission for five days, from September 16 to 20, to allow transferring medical equipment and materials to the new, renovated building.
The resumption of operation of the hospital at Brgy. Dongon is expected to be on September 21, 2023. (MMP/PIA-Southern Leyte/With reports from PSMB)
