Cebu Province Gets Hospital Equipment From Belgian Philanthropist

The provincial government received three-40 footer container vans of hospital equipment from a Belgian Philanthropist last February 4.

Governor Hilario P. Davide III thanked Patrick Haghedooren for the donated hospital equipment. The province paid about P300,000 for the freight while Hagheddoren paid P9,900 for the taxes.

Haghedooren said the items may be worth a few millions but he said he is not looking at the amount.

He said he only wanted that the donation would benefit the “right people.” “It has to be used by the poor patients who cannot afford. Otherwise that they have a nice hospital not an old bed, not cartoons,” he stated.

Gov. Davide said the 12 district hospitals will be prioritized in the distribution, especially those located in the islands.

Cebu Provincial Health Office Officer-in-Charge Cynthia Genesolango said the arrival of the equipment is timely as the Capitol is in the midst of its pains to equip its hospitals.

The donated equipment include hospital beds, tables, examination tables, chairs, wheelchairs, pillows, rescue beds, crutches, walkers, iron nurse, baby bed, delivery tables, among others.

Haghedooren was also thankful for his broker Elorde Talisik, a resident of Talisay, for giving his services free of charge.

Their partnership started four years ago even before the powerful typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan) hit the island in 2013. Haghedooren’s wife is a native of Leyte.

A native of Ledegem, Belgium, Haghedooren has been donating equipment for eight years. He started his charity work with TahanangWalangHagdanan in Cainta, Rizal in partnership with a Belgium priest.Hagheedooren was shipping out wheelchairs from Belgium. He stopped but then revived his charity works in Leyte and formed his foundation, Solidaritiet Leyte. He then later on extended to Camotes Island.

Haghedooren said he met Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office Chief Baltazar Tribunalo in one of his trips to Camotes Island. He added that Tribunalo approached him and asked if he could also facilitate the donation of some equipment for Cebu.

The hospital equipment came from two hospitals in Belgium.

Haghedooren said he is not a millionaire and he cannot shoulder all the expenses for the shipment of the materials. “If I could have a partner who would pay for the freight, I can bring more equipment from Belgium to the Philippines,” Haghedooren added.

Tribunalo also stated that they have agreed to embark on an irrigation project in Camotes Island. Haghedooren expressed his willingness to help the province obtain the support of the Belgian government on the project.

By Xerxes Alkuino