AID FOR FRONT-LINERS. Dr. Leopoldo Vega (2nd from right), chief of the Southern Philippines Medical Center, receives the donation of medical supplies on Sunday (April 5, 2020) from the different Chinese groups. Around 1,162 boxes of different medical supplies were received by Mayor Sara Duterte to equip front-liners working to fight the 2019 coronavirus disease. (Photo courtesy of Matias Regis, Jr.)
DAVAO CITY – The city government here distributed medical supplies donated by various Chinese groups to hospitals in the region to be used by health personnel working to contain the 2019 coronavirus disease (Covid-19).
Matias Regis, Jr., chief of Investment and Trade Promotion and Generation Unit of Davao City Investment Promotion Center (DCIPC), said the 1,162 boxes of medical supplies donated by different Chinese groups to Mayor Sara Duterte have been distributed starting Sunday.
Regis said Tuesday the Southern Philippines Medical Center (SPMC)--the designated Covid-19 facility for the region--was the first recipient of the donation.
“Yesterday (Monday) we delivered the supplies to the private hospitals in this city and today we will now give it to the various hospitals in Davao Region,” he said.
He said the medical supplies arrived here in two batches on Friday (April 3) and Sunday via C-130, courtesy of the Philippine Air Force (PAF).
He said supplies’ arrival was made faster with the help of the Bureau of Customs and the Office of the Civil Defense (OCD.
“The cargoes were sanitized by the City Health Office (CHO) before it was transported for distribution,” Regis said.
The first batch of medical supplies consisted of 1.1 million facemasks from Jinjiang Panpan Food Company, 500 units of infrared thermometer, and 3,000 pieces of personal protective equipment (PPE) from this city’s sister-city Jinjiang, China.
The second batch of donations from Chinese Ambassador Huang Xilian and the Davao Fil-Chinese Multi-Sectoral Association, Inc. includes 20 units of respiratory machines, 1,200 pieces infrared thermometers, 10,020 pieces of protective septic suits, 2,000 pieces face shields, 600 pieces’ protective goggles, 9,660 N95 masks, and 37,500 pairs of gloves.
Regis said the CHO, Central 911, and the various Covid-19 patient care centers were among the recipients of the donated medical supplies.
“We are optimistic that more donations will come in for our front-liners,” he said. (PNA)
