Pres. Diosdado Macapagal Memorial Hospital and Tropical Research
The members of the medical division.(Formerly Western Visayas Sanitarium)
THE Western Visayas Sanitarium in Sta. Barbara, Iloilo, is now a full-pledged service hospital. Renamed as Pres. Diosdado Macapagal Memorial Hospital & Tropical Research which was inaugurated by former Pres. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo is now servicing not only leprosy patients but also sick people in the outlying towns of the 2nd and 3rd districts including Iloilo City. More than 19 hospital services are offered to patients. To name a few: Maternal and Child Care/Mother Baby Friendly services; dental service; prenatal and post natal immunization as well as consultation related to five major services like medicine, pediatrics, family medicine, OB-Gynecology and surgery. The hospital has new and modern medical facilities and the President has promised to send in more latest technology and equipment for the hospital. Doctors and nurses are well and highly trained. From Monday to Friday, more than a hundred patients and residents line up to get a medical attention. With the opening of the different hospital services, the public patients are assured of good care.
The building that houses patients with leprosy.There are only two small rooms for the lepers as many of them are already cured and are living a happy normal life.
The hospital also boasts of the latest equipment while doctors and nurses are ready to administer treatment 24/7.
Western Visayas Sanitarium was established in 1927 for lepers alone. Dr. Goitia and Gil Leonides were the first members of the medical staff. From then on many distinguished physicians administered in the leper hospital.
Today, it is under the leadership of the chief of the hospital Dr. Annabelle Pabiona de Guzman. Dr. de Guzman, M.D., FPAFP, MHA is a diplomate in family medicine, Fellow of the Philippine Academy of Family Physicians, graduate of Master in Medical Education, London, U.K. and Master in Hospital Administration at UP, member of the Philippine Association of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases. She is the wife of well-known asthma specialist Dr. Christopher Rey de Guzman. The couple has a son, Christian who recently won the Gold Medal for Violin at the International Student Convention School of Tomorrow at the Accelerated Christian Ministries held in Kentucky, U.S.A.
