• RICHARD T. CABALLERO JR.
After the Nephroprime Corporation ceased operations of a dialysis center at Don Salvador Benedicto Memorial District Hospital in La Carlota City, the Provincial Government of Negros Occidental is set to assume its operations.
Provincial Administrator Atty. Rayfrando Diaz said on Friday that new pipes and reverse osmosis (RO) systems have been installed after the facility was left in disrepair by the previous service provider.
The facility was operating for a long time, but when it ceased operations, the province was compelled to help to cater to the displaced dialysis patients, Diaz said.
The new pipes and machine to be used were installed by the ZRL Group, a private partner authorized by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan. The same company also operates the dialysis centers in Cadiz District Hospital and Teresita L. Jalandoni Provincial Hospital in Silay City.
The province eyes the resumption of the operation of the dialysis center anytime this August or the earliest they can, Diaz disclosed.
As of the moment, the province, together with its private partner, are preparing to test the quality of water to be utilized for the newly installed RO machine, to ensure that it is safe for patients.
“We need to test the water quality now that the RO machine is there and the pipes have already been installed so that we can be sure that the water used during dialysis is not contaminated or polluted,” Diaz said.
Furthermore, according to Diaz, the province is committed to continuing the construction of a government-run dialysis center at Lorenzo D. Zayco District Hospital in Kabankalan City to deliver services in the 6th district, as it is in the process of taking over operations of another facility in La Carlota City.*
