The Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Council Negros Oriental has appropriated P3 million for the restoration and rehabilitation of the hyperbaric decompression chamber, a government press release said.

Provincial Tourism Officer Myla Abellana had said in the recent PDRRMC meeting that there was a need to rehabilitate the hyperbaric chamber initially used as a life-saving tool to treat deep-sea diving related illnesses.

The P3 million will be used to purchase hyperbaric accessories, like the compressor, and oxygen concentrator, and to support the training of the medical staff to operate it, the press release also said.

Meanwhile, the Negros Oriental Chamber of Commerce Inc. and the Negros Oriental Business Development Foundation conducted a hyperbaric medicine forum in Dumaguete City recently.

Philippine Commission on Sports Scuba Diving commissioner, Dr. Jose Bernardo, discussed the importance of hyperbaric medicine to diving and tourism as one of the most promising modern medical developments. Michael Perez, administrator and owner of St. Patrick’s Hospital Medical Center in Batangas, discussed the use of hyperbaric medicine for diving diseases, decompression illness, carbon monoxide poisoning, and soft tissue infections, like necrotising fasciitis and gas gangrene, the press release said.

Perez said non-healing and problem wounds, like diabetic foot ulcers, and healing issues in cancer patients who have undergone radiotherapy can also be treated in the decompression chamber, the press release added.*

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