BAGUIO CITY (PIA) – – Around 300 charity ward patients of the Baguio General Hospital and Medical Center (BGHMC) including children at the Pediatric Department and Intensive Care Unit received Christmas gift packs and blankets during the “Share a Joy” program of the hospital’s Advisory Board on Wednesday (Dec. 27).
BGHMC AdBoard chairperson Ram Sharma informed that this Christmas gift–giving that aims to bring cheers to indigent patients at the BGHMC is through the initiative of the officials and members of the AdBoard and in partnership with the Baguio community.
“Every Christmas we do this, bringing gifts to indigent patients as we hope to put a smile on their faces”, Sharma said.
This time, BGHMC patients received Christmas family packs that contain food and non – food items, snacks and blankets, courtesy of the BGHMC AdBoard along with community partners Chandru Budrani, Fernando-Rosa Bautista Foundation, Baguio–Benguet Travel Management Association, Baguio Midland Courier and McDonalds.
The BGHMC AdBoard is a non – government organization that links the hospital with the community for any possible assistance to indigent patients or hospital concerns that need to be addressed, Sharma explained.
‘We raise funds and every month we donate P20, 000 for the medicine and other hospitalization needs of indigent patients’, he added.
BGHMC Administrative Department chief Priscilla Galiste expressed BGHMC’s gratitude to the AdBoard for their continuing service and assistance to indigent patients through the years.
The BGHMC AdBoard has been existing for 60 years now. The officers and members meet every first Wednesday of each month to look into projects and programs that need to be implemented, Galiste said.
The BGHMC has about 1,000 average patients a day and its 500 authorized complement beds are always in full capacity and even extends up to 700 beds, as the need arises.
In terms of operations, BGHMC is doing good and coping – up with the heavy influx of patients coming in, both for outpatients and for admission. Aside from the Medical Assistance Program of the DOH and the AdBoard, the city government and the city councilors also provide hospital assistance, Galiste disclosed.**By Carlito Dar
