HEAVEN-SENT. Cotabato Regional and Medical Center chief of hospital, Dr. Helen Yambao (right) signs documents officially accepting augmentation medical supplies and personal protective equipment (inset) given by the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao in Cotabato City on Wednesday (March 25, 2020). The event came amid another good news after Yambao revealed that Covid-19 Patient 145 at the CRMC has been discharged last week after recovering from the illness following two-week confinement. (Photo by Albashir Saiden – PNA Cotabato)
COTABATO CITY — The Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao-Inter-Agency Task Force (BARMM-IATF) on coronavirus disease (Covid-19) handed over the first set of medical supplies and equipment to the Cotabato Regional and Medical Center in this city Wednesday.
BARMM cabinet secretary Asnin Pendatun, concurrent BARMM-IATF spokesperson, said the medical supplies included a set of misting tent used for disinfecting patients and health workers, disposable and reusable Hazmat suits or Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), surgical and N-95 masks, examination and surgical gloves, face shields, alcohol, and disinfectants.
The CRMC is one of the referral hospitals for Covid-19 cases in Central Mindanao.
“These are just initial supplies. We are prioritizing hospitals identified by the Ministry of Health (MOH) – BARMM as referral hospitals for Covid-19 patients,” Pendatun said.
Dr. Helen Yambao, CRMC chief of hospital, said the medical supplies and equipment are a big help for them since they already are running out of supplies, especially PPE for doctors and nurses attending to persons under investigation for Covid-19 in the hospital.
“These medical supplies are heaven-sent since our stocks are already dwindling,” Yambao said.
Pendatun said medical supplies would also be distributed to other priority referral hospitals in the BARMM, which includes the provincial hospitals in Maguindanao, Lanao del Sur, Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi.
Discharged
This developed as Yambao said Covid-19 positive Patient 145, a 32-year old male from Lanao del Sur, has been discharged from the CRMC following a two-week recovery.
"He's already been discharged, improved, and alive. He is now back to his family," Yambao said.
The patient had traveled to attend a religious event in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia earlier this month along with Patient 40 who died at the Northern Mindanao Medical Center in Cagayan de Oro City.
“Patient 145 was admitted earlier this month and found positive for Covid-19 on March 17, 2020,” Yambao said.
As of Wednesday, CRMC said it is monitoring 81 other possible Covid-19 cases, with 30 PUIs manifesting mild symptoms, one severe, and 50 other persons under monitoring. (PNA)
