BONGAO, Tawi-Tawi — A one-year-old child who sustained a life-threatening impaled chest wound caused by a sharp pedicure tool locally known as a “nail pusher” has survived following a successful emergency operation at the province’s lone surgical hospital, according to a report aired by Suwara Tawi-Tawi, a local radio station.
The child was rushed to the Dr. Haji Sangkula J. Laja District Hospital (DHSMH) after accidentally falling while holding the steel object, which pierced the chest. Despite the severity of the injury, the hospital’s surgical team managed to safely remove the object and perform the necessary procedures.
Dr. Sangkula Laja, chief of DHSMH, said the child had been playing with the nail pusher when the incident occurred.
“The removal of the object was successful, and appropriate surgical procedures were carried out,” Laja said in an interview cited by the radio report. “The patient is now stable.”
The case highlights both a remarkable medical save and the continuing strain on healthcare services in the island province.
Strained Health System
While the operation ended in success, hospital officials underscored longstanding structural challenges confronting the facility. According to Laja, DHSMH has been forced to hire medical specialists—including surgeons, internists, and anesthesiologists—from Zamboanga City on a job-order basis due to the absence of permanent plantilla positions.
The hospital currently has only five regular positions combined for doctors and nurses, a number far from sufficient to meet the growing demand for healthcare services in the province.
“This has been a persistent problem,” Laja noted, pointing out that the hospital’s staffing structure has remained largely unchanged since 1975.
Lagging Behind in BARMM
Since the establishment of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), several hospitals across the region have received upgrades in personnel and facilities. However, DHSMH in Bongao—considered the province’s main referral center—has yet to see similar improvements.
It remains the only Level 1 hospital in Tawi-Tawi and the sole facility equipped to perform surgical procedures, serving a population spread across geographically isolated islands.
Other hospitals in municipalities such as Sibutu, South Ubian, and Mapun have reportedly been given priority in recent years, further widening the gap in healthcare capacity within the province.
Hope for Upgrading
Despite the challenges, there may be relief on the horizon. Laja confirmed that a bill seeking the upgrading of the provincial hospital is currently pending at the Bangsamoro Parliament and has reached the second reading stage.
Health advocates say the measure, if passed, could significantly improve staffing, infrastructure, and service delivery in one of the country’s most underserved provinces.
For now, the survival of the one-year-old patient stands as both a testament to the dedication of local medical workers—and a stark reminder of the urgent need to strengthen healthcare systems in far-flung communities.