Marianas Health Services resumes operations, stresses self-care and community support after Sinlaku

Marianas Health Services has resumed clinic operations following Super Typhoon Sinlaku, with staff continuing to care for vulnerable homebound patients despite ongoing water and power challenges and damage to the facility.

“We re-opened last week. The reception has been very well received,” said CEO and administrator Amber Mendiola-Romolor. “We’ve had a lot of inquiries coming in about our operating hours. We’ve had a lot of people interested, especially to come back in to do things like their food handler exams.”

Mendiola-Romolor said demand for services was evident even before the clinic officially reopened.

“When we first came and opened the doors to do our initial assessment of the building, we actually already had a line of patients waiting,” she said. “A lot of people have been waiting for Marianas Health Services to open up again.”

She said patients have come in seeking treatment for storm-related injuries, prescription refills, work clearances, and medical consultations after years without seeing a healthcare provider.

“Post-storm they’re very interested in setting up care now,” she said.

Although the outpatient clinic temporarily shut down after the storm because of flooding, lack of running water, and power outages, MHS’ home care services continued for vulnerable patients across Saipan.

“Since the first week after, we’ve resumed our regular home care services,” Mendiola-Romolor said. “We have a lot of vulnerable patients.”

She said clinicians continued making house visits even before the all-clear signal was issued because of concern for homebound patients needing catheter changes, wound care, and other essential medical services.

“Even though we were all in the immediate threat of post-recovery, they were already out there trying as much as they could to help the patients,” she said.

MHS currently serves around 90 homebound patients, with referrals increasing after the storm due to injuries sustained during Sinlaku.

The clinic also saw patients struggling emotionally in the aftermath of the disaster.

“There have been a few reports of stress,” Mendiola-Romolor said. “Unlike the rest of us, we could move around after the storm was gone, but a lot of our patients can’t do that.”

She said clinicians and social workers have been assisting patients experiencing stress and trauma following the typhoon.

MHS itself sustained flooding and broken windows, while several water tanks were destroyed. The organization remains without commercial power and is operating on generators.

Mendiola-Romolor credited Samaritan's Purse for helping restore operations.

“They actually donated a 1,000-gallon water tank and a full generator,” she said. “Their words to us were, ‘Let us carry the burden,’ and they basically did.”

MHS Community and Outreach Office’s Suli Vakatara also thanked relief partners assisting the clinic and its patients.

“They’ve been a real blessing, not just to us, but to the whole of Saipan and the CNMI as a whole,” Vakatara said of Samaritan’s Purse. “Ever since they’ve come in, they’ve hit the ground running.”

Vakatara said the organization recently distributed donated MREs and water to patients.

“It’s our job to look after our patients, but we feel very fortunate to have such great community partners helping us to do that,” he said.

Mendiola-Romolor emphasized the importance of self-care as residents continue recovering from the storm.

“I believe self-care is paramount at this time,” she said. “Not a lot of people understand how much they need to take a break sometimes in order for them to continue to move forward.”

She urged residents to seek medical or mental health support if needed.

“You cannot help the community if you yourself are feeling ill—whether that be physically, mentally, emotionally, spiritually,” she said.

Mendiola-Romolor also praised MHS employees, some of whom suffered severe damage to their own homes but still reported to work and assisted patients and coworkers with debris removal.

“We’ve had quite a few staff who have lost almost everything,” she said. “But I’m so proud of them for coming in to serve our community.”

MHS is also partnering with Casa Marianas on outreach and logistics efforts aimed at improving delivery of services to vulnerable residents.

Casa Marianas founder Blaine Graboyes said he was surprised to learn MHS nurses were using their own vehicles, generators, and equipment to care for patients after the storm.

“The work that they’re doing out in the field is absolutely essential and tremendous,” Graboyes said. “They are our true first responders.”

Graboyes said the collaboration is focused on improving “last mile” delivery of supplies and services to residents across Saipan.

“This is our very moment to change things for the future,” he said.

MHS outpatient clinic hours are Tuesday from 8:30am to 1pm and Wednesday and Friday from 8:30am to noon. Home care services continue to operate as normal.