BY NENY REGINO
THE University of the Philippines-Philippine General Hospital (UP-PGH) recently launched the country’s first post-Covid-19 hub called the UP-PGH Post-Covid Pulmo Care Hub. This collaborative initiative between UP-PGH, SM Foundation, and other donors is intended to address the long-term effects of Covid-19 and provide complete care for patients with lung problems.
The hub was established through the joint effort of UP-PGH and SM Foundation, with support from former patients and alumni of the UP-PGH Division of Pulmonology.
Notable donors include Dr. Charles Yu and family, Dr. Paulo Lorenzo and family, Dr. Anjuli May Jaen, Chavit Singson, Dr. Ralph Villalobos and family, Dr. Allen Zagala, Ralph Suarez and family, Dr. Joel Santiaguel, Johnny Chan, Flor Paterno, Lourdes Hofilena, Dr. Romulo Uy, and Dr. Maria Philina Villamor.
Dr. Lenora Fernandez, chief of the Division of Pulmonary Medicine at UP-PGH, highlighted the prevalence of long-term syndrome among Covid-19 survivors, emphasizing symptoms such as shortness of breath, fatigue, and brain fog. Approximately 20 percent of recovered patients continue to suffer from these long-term effects.
Aiza Delmo, an intensive unit nurse at the PGH was one of those who contracted Covid-19.
She was admitted to the hospital and diagnosed as a case of critical Covid-19 pneumonia.
She shared her struggle after she was discharged from the hospital: “A little movement would cause me to catch my breath, gasping. There’s nothing much that I can do.”
Two days after her discharge, she started her pulmonary rehabilitation. “It was very challenging. I did rehab every other day for three months. It was painful; it was very tiring,” she said.
Pulmonary rehab was more challenging for Delmo as she was also diagnosed with post-Covid-19 fibrosis and was advised to take antifibrotics for additional management.
The establishment of the post-Covid-19 hub was conceptualized to help those debilitated by Covid-19 long-term syndrome like Delmo.
Dr. Joselito Chavez, who preceded Fernandez as chief of the Division of Pulmonary Medicine and now consultant at the division, said: “Basically one of the intentions is rehabilitation and placing them [recovered patients] back to their families, to their community to become productive members again. Otherwise, they become a burden to society, burden to the healthcare. Putting them back to their productive status is possible with the Covid-19 hub.”
The hub provides a range of services, including diagnostic assessments for lung problems and long Covid-19 syndrome, a pulmonary rehabilitation program, a smoking cessation program, an asthma education program, care for lung cancer and interstitial lung disease, and help with home care.
The medical team at the UP-PGH Pulmonary Care Center and Post-Covid Hub includes pulmonologists and professionals from different fields, like Rehabilitation Medicine, Neurosciences, Family Medicine, Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine. Respiratory therapists, Medical Social Services, and the Dietary Section also help. The hub has 13 faculty members and 12 pulmonary fellows in training.
Dr. Fernandez emphasized that a multidisciplinary program has been tried and tested in rehabilitation, making the UP-PGH Pulmonary Care Center and Post-Covid Hub a reliable and effective medical facility for patients with lung disorders.
At the inauguration of the UP-PGH Pulmonary Care Center and Post-Covid Hub, Connie Angeles, executive director for Health and Medical Programs of the SM Foundation, reaffirmed the foundation’s ardent commitment to promoting the health and well-being of Filipinos. She described the creation of the pulmonary care center and post-Covid-19 hub as a significant milestone in healthcare, an accomplishment that would benefit the people.
“We are very happy to be part of the creation of this post CoVid hub, the first in the country. This endeavor is a testament to the power of partnership and the social good.
When organizations like SM foundation come together with health care institutions like the UP PGH, we create a synergy that transforms lives,” Angeles said.
Dr. Gerardo Legaspi, medical director at UP-PGH, said it will also be “a hub for research which the country will be looking forward to as data for post-Covid-19 complications are being gathered, aside from the services given to patients and the advanced equipment it has.”
This the third time that SM Foundation has partnered with the UP-PGH Division of Pulmonary Medicine.
The first partnership was for the renovation of the Pulmonary room at the Out Patient Department, followed by another renovation two years later to accommodate the CPET machine and for Pulmonary rehab sessions.
During the event, Fernandez expressed her gratitude to SM Foundation for their generosity in making the vision of a post-Covid and pulmonary care hub a reality.
The event was attended by several notable people, including Dr. Gerardo Legaspi, UP-PGH medical director; Dr. Joselito Chavez, former chief of the Division of Pulmonary Medicine; Dr. Carissa Paz Dioquino, chair of the Department of Neurosciences; Dr. John Anonuevo, chair of the Department of Medicine; and fellows of the Pulmonary Division, among others.
SM Foundation was represented by Connie Angeles, executive director for Health and Medical Programs, Engr. Gil Macapagal, board of trustee; Albert Uy, senior project manager, and Roma Hierro, assistant project manager.
