Google map of Lanao del Sur province.
ILIGAN CITY -- The provincial government of Lanao del Sur has formed an Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) to monitor and direct efforts to prevent the entry of the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) in the province.
In a meeting with officials of the province's 39 towns in the provincial seat of Marawi City on Wednesday, Governor Mamintal Adiong urged local health officials to implement precautionary and preventive measures, as well as to initiate an information and education campaign on proper hygiene.
"I want that, as much as possible, every resident must be healthy and free from any sickness," Adiong said.
The IATF's creation was in response to a directive from the national government to enforce a "whole of government" approach in dealing with the virus, he said.
Provincial Information Officer Jennie Alonto Tamano said the task force has already set a meeting for all officials of the province's 1,159 barangays on February 13 to tackle the threat of nCoV and how to prevent its entry into the province.
"The provincial government will provide assistance to the Provincial Health Office in conducting IEC (information education campaign) activities down to the different barangays through the respective municipal health offices," Tamano said.
She said the Amai Pakpak Medical Center in Marawi City will serve as a support component to the IATF in preventing the entry of nCoV.
As of Wednesday, there were no reported cases of people under investigation or monitoring who are suspected of carrying the virus in Lanao del Sur. (PNA)
