BM Dangani: ‘Health hearing seeks better services for Kalinga, not to attack health workers’

“Kaya nga yong next agenda natin is about the increase (hazard pay).”

- Board Member Alrefod Dangani

TABUK CITY, Kalinga — The Sangguniang Panlalawigan’s (SP) hearing on a complaint involving the alleged improper treatment of a laboring patient at the Kalinga Provincial Hospital (KPH) is aimed at improving health services, not attacking health workers, Board Member Alfredo K. Dangani said.

Dangani, chair of the SP Committee on Health and Sanitation, emphasized the need to balance the welfare of patients with the concerns and challenges faced by health workers as the provincial board investigated the complaint.

“We are doing this for the betterment of our province. Apay anya ti inbagak? Kunak met daduma, haan ko met inbaga nga amin nga health workers, ket kasjay. We are doing this (hearing) to improve our health service,” Dangani said during the joint committee hearing on September 10.

The complaint was initially raised during the SP’s regular session on September 8 by the patient’s mother-in-law, who alleged that a KPH health worker questioned the patient’s crying while she was experiencing labor pains.

According to the complainant, the patient, who is from Lubuagan, was allegedly told to stop crying because she was disturbing other patients.

“Haan ko ammo nu sino diay nurse or midwife. Itata nagururay kami diay ward habang nga aglablabor isuna, diay manugang ko nga taga Lubuagan, ket nakaida, aglaborlabor idiay, nu maysa ka nga ina mariknam ti sakit na aglabor. Kunak diay manugang ko kayam dayta.

Inggana nga agsangsangiten diay manugang ko ket inmay ti maysa nga nurse, kunana apay anya dayta nga mangbulabog ka ti pasyente. Ipan mo dayta anak mo idiay, haan nga agsangsangit ditoy, ta mangistorbo,” Dawagon narrated.

The complaint prompted the SP Committees on Health and Sanitation and Appropriations to conduct a joint hearing to hear the accounts of the hospital personnel who were on duty during the incident.

Dangani: Hear both sides

Dangani said the board must hear both the complainant and the health workers before reaching any conclusion.

“We have to try our best to be objective. It’s good nga ni doktora explained. So we have to let them explain also,” he said.

He said the hearing was intended to establish the facts rather than immediately determine who was at fault.

“Kaya nga we are investigating, we have to hear both sides. Kaya wag kayong makuwan. Nu awan ti kaso mo edi absuelto. Pag nakita natin na nagsisinungaling pala yon, yon ang point ko being the chair of the committee on health,” he added.

During the hearing, hospital personnel explained the circumstances surrounding the patient’s admission and treatment, including the restrictions inside the labor room and the hospital’s available manpower.

They said the patient had earlier been assessed at KPH’s outpatient department due to elevated blood pressure before being admitted for labor watch.

Hospital personnel also explained that access to the labor room is restricted for sanitation and contamination-control purposes, particularly because mothers in labor may bleed.

Shortage of health workers

The hearing also highlighted the shortage of health workers at KPH.

Dr. Marriane Baggay, a KPH obstetrician-gynecologist, said there were periods when she was the only available OB because another doctor was on leave.

She said the shortage was compounded by the hospital’s workload and number of operative cases, resulting in some patients being referred to hospitals in Tuguegarao when their cases could no longer be safely accommodated.

“Ada man mairefer ko nga sagsagaysa diay Tuguegarao ket nu talaga na nabbanog nek metten. I can only do so much,” Baggay said.

Dangani said the shortage of health personnel had already been raised during previous provincial discussions.

“Last year palang, when we have that meeting, it was presented ang kakulangan ng health workers natin. Kulang na kulang,” he said.

He added that the provincial board would also discuss measures to improve the working conditions of health workers, including compensation.

“Kaya nga yong next agenda natin is about the increase (hazard pay),” he said.

‘Malapit kayo sa puso ko’

Dangani said he understands the challenges faced by health workers, noting his personal connection to the sector.

His father was a barangay health worker, while his wife is a nurse.

“Masakit din sa akin ito. Malapit kayo sa puso ko eh,” Dangani said.

He stressed, however, that his support for health workers should not be interpreted as disregarding complaints from patients.

“I love the health workers but we have to preserve the health of our people here in Kalinga,” he said.

Dangani said the situation at KPH should also be viewed in the context of broader challenges, including manpower and compensation.

“Actually ado ti factors na met nu apay nga kasjay ti KPH, correct me if I’m wrong, haan lang personal nga problema da. Nagbassit da. Lacking tayo ti health workers, kurang ti pasuweldo, talaga ah nga nasakit,” he said.

He emphasized that the hearing was not intended to generalize or blame all health workers for the alleged incident.

Rather, the board is looking at the specific complaint while also examining the systemic challenges affecting the delivery of health services.

Dangani said his ultimate goal as health committee chair is to help create a healthier province.

“I believe that God made me as chair of the health and sanitation tapno aramiden tayo ti Kalinga nga healthy. Awan ti healthy nga environment nu ada ti agririri gamin,” he said.

The hearing consequently placed both patient welfare and the working conditions of health personnel under discussion, with the provincial board expected to consider possible measures to improve KPH services and address concerns raised during the proceedings.