San Francisco de Asís Hospital in Quibdó is treating earthquake patients under heavy pressure. Figures provided by its officials describe a crowded emergency department, full intensive care beds and a specific difficulty with blood because the facility lacks the specialised refrigerator needed for a functional blood bank.
Seventy-six emergency patients on August 11
Special intervention agent Ovidio Garrido reported emergency occupancy of 245.2% on Tuesday, August 11, representing 76 patients. All nine intensive care beds were also occupied on that date.
Blood must be transfused when it arrives
Doctor Cristian Maturana says blood arrives from major cities and must be transfused immediately because the hospital lacks the specialised refrigerator required. The source does not establish that the absence of this equipment was caused by the earthquake.
Thirty-three patients transferred within 48 hours
Thirty-three patients were evacuated to Antioquia during the first 48 hours. Twenty travelled on the first day aboard a presidential plane; later transfers included complex fracture cases. Specialists also arrived as reinforcements.
Material needs still being reported
The hospital is requesting wheelchairs, compresses and sterile gauze, sutures, laboratory reagents, blood products, beds and stretchers, among other items. Blood storage capacity and occupancy trends remain two essential indicators to watch.