Capitol docs, warden, caterer star in hearing over sick IRC inmates
Top doctors in the employ of the Iloilo Provincial Government are expected to show up in today’s “beriberi” probe of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan Committee on Health.
Led by First District Board Member Mac Napulan, the proceedings will be opened to the public with the Capitol session hall as venue. The News Today (TNT) got the confirmation that key resource persons of said investigation will be Dr. Prim Parcon, chief of the Iloilo Provincial Hospital (IPH) and Dr. Patricia Trabado, Iloilo Provincial Health Officer (PHO). Also expected are Dr. Maria Porcia Manejero, Chief of the Capitol clinic and nutritionists of the Department of Health (DOH) as coursed through Dr. Ariel Valencia.
Further still, the probe is set to have the appearance of one Ana Puda said to be the caterer of the Iloilo Rehabilitation Center (IRC). Also expected is Mario Nillos, Provincial Planning and Development Officer (PPDO) of the Capitol and the current IRC warden himself, lawyer Sotero Gardoce.
Today’s investigation is in aid of legislation triggered by what has now become a medical history for Iloilo and the IRC.
Napulan in a privilege speech pushed for the probe following what he said was the alarming state of the inmates at the IRC.
He also expressed shock and concern over the recent death of one inmate yet worse still, he said, was the plight of two inmates diagnosed with enlarged hearts. On official record was the hospitalization of 23 inmates at the IPH, 11 of whom were confined due to the severity of their medical condition.
After series of tests, top Capitol officials downplayed the matter saying it was only deficiency of some much-needed vitamins. The alleged culprit was “beriberi,” doctors Parcon and Trabado told Capitol reporters with supplemental feeding presented as the immediate cure and solution.
beriberi has since remained only in the medical books with no actual known cases here.
“I had the opportunity to see up close and personal these inmates at the Iloilo Provincial Hospital. And it was one sorry sight. Swollen faces. Swollen feet. Swollen stomachs. Similar manifestations and what do these men have in common? They were and are fully dependent on IRC meals rations served by the caterer,” Napulan began. “Thus, it is sensible to conclude – the food served to them lacking B1 or Thiamine made them sick of Beriberi. It is very interesting to note that inmates receiving supplemental food from their families outside of the IRC does not get sick of Beriberi.”
Third District Board Member Mar Malones for his part backed the probe pointing out the over P14.6 million in food budget allocated by the Iloilo Provincial Government for the IRC.
Incidentally, it was Malones who called the attention of Napulan on the IRC matter with the dead inmate a constituent in his district.
“With millions poured in here and millions more for its upkeep and maintenance, the least we can do is ensure effective safekeeping and rehabilitation of offenders through educational, therapeutic, productive and restorative principles,” he continued. “Surely, there must be a way to make them productive. And keep them from getting very sick and dying.”