By Johnnie Rosario
Senators just passed an amendment into the budget by Sen. Therese Terlaje that will fund the hiring of additional nurses and respiratory therapists at Guam Memorial Hospital and the Department of Public Health and Social Services.
The vote was unanimous.
The amendment will allow the governor to use lapsed funds to hire the nurses and therapists.
Doctors and hospital administrator Lillian Perez Posadas have said the island's capacity to treat surges of sick people is limited by the lack of an adequate number of critical care nurses and respiratory therapists.
The expansion of capacity through the hiring of these professionals is regarded as part of any potential strategy for the people of Guam to co-exist with the Coronavirus.
