ANGELES CITY, Pampanga – With 17 existing dialysis machines, the Renal Care Unit (RCU) of the Rafael Lazatin Memorial Medical Center (RLMMC), formerly known as Ospital Ning Angeles (ONA), provides 1,530 free dialysis sessions per month. With the pending installation of 22 additional dialysis machines, the RCU will be able to provide up to 3,510.
“The additional dialysis machines will allow us to serve more patients,” said ONA Hospital Chief, Dr. Froilan Canlas, “We hope to accommodate an additional 35 patients who are currently in our waiting list.”
The ONA RCU is the first government-run dialysis center in the region, established in 2011 during the administration of former City Mayor Edgardo Pamintuan.
Since then, it has provided invaluable service to Angeleños suffering from renal disease, especially during the pandemic.
“During the height of the pandemic, private hospitals were refusing to accept patients who were COVID-19 positive for their dialysis sessions,” Canlas recalled, “ONA was the only facility accommodating them.”
ONA was also the only COVID-19 facility in the city at the time, providing free RT-PCR testing for suspected COVID-19 patients, admitting positive cases, and providing free COVID-19 medication to patients.
“I can say with utmost confidence that amid the pandemic, ONA rose to the occasion,” Canlas said.
From 2020 up to present, ONA has carried out 78,953 free RT-PCR tests.
In 2020, ONA admitted 280 COVID-19 positive patients. In 2021, they admitted 315 into the hospital, while 5,642 were admitted into the hotel isolation facilities – still under the care of ONA doctors and medical staff.
“Nung kasagsagan ng pandemya, may mga araw na ang mga doktor, nurses, at staff ng ONA hindi na natutulog, hindi na umuuwi,” said Canlas, “Ang iba sa kanila, nagkakasakit na, dahil sa pagod o dahil sa exposure sa COVID-19 patients.”
“This is why I dislike it when the hospital is badmouthed and ONA’s name gets dragged into politicking,” added Canlas.
Earlier, Canlas appealed to candidates, particularly the Bayung Angeles lineup of incumbent City Councilor Amos Rivera, to refrain from using ONA in their ‘dirty politicking’.
“Kami sa ONA, nagtatrabaho at nagseserbisyo sa publiko. Rain or shine, pandemic or not. Spare us from the politics,” Canlas said.
