FUNDS TURNOVER. The Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao donates over PHP14 million to the Cotabato Regional and Medical Center on Monday (April 13, 2020) to capacitate the hospital’s laboratory facility for 2019 coronavirus disease testing procedures. The initiative was sealed through a memorandum of agreement signing (inset) between BARMM chief minister Ahod Ebrahim (right) and CRMC chief of hospital, Dr. Helen Yambao (left) at the BARMM government center in Cotabato City. (Photo by BPI-BARMM)
COTABATO CITY -- The Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) has donated over PHP14 million to the Cotabato Regional and Medical Center (CRMC) here to upgrade and capacitate the hospital’s laboratory facility to conduct Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) analysis, or the 2019 coronavirus disease (Covid-19) testing procedure.
The intervention to combat Covid-19 in the region was done through a memorandum of agreement (MOA) signing between the BARMM chief minister Ahod Ebrahim and CRMC chief of hospital, Dr. Helen Yambao, at the BARMM administrative center in this city on Monday.
“This will make them [CRMC] one step closer in being an accredited and capable laboratory to conduct the very important PCR testing for COVID-19 patients,” Ebrahim said.
In assessing the existing capabilities of hospitals in the region, he said the CRMC is the closest to meet the requirements and technical capabilities of conducting PCR or laboratory testing for Covid-19.
Early on, Yambao said the CRMC, being a referral hospital, was able to monitor so far 148 suspected patients, tested 19 probable patients, and detected another six confirmed patients for Covid-19 through throat swab samples sent to the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine in Metro Manila and the Sothern Philippines Medical Center in Davao City.
“The rest of the suspected patients and the mild probable patients were only advised to go on home quarantine for at least 14 days,” Yambao said.
Yambao said that the donation will help the CRMC in the isolation of Covid-19 confirmed patients as well as the mitigation to contain the spread of the virus in the community.
“We very well know that there’s no effective cure yet nor a vaccine that can prevent Covid-19. We are truly grateful to the BARMM for all the assistance you have given us,” Yambao said.
Ebrahim emphasized that the MOA exemplifies the strategic partnership that BARMM has been advocating in its component areas as part of the regional government’s 12-point agenda.
“Indeed, we are in difficult times. We are dealing with an enemy that we cannot see with our naked eyes, an enemy that has overwhelmed our healthcare systems worldwide.
Through our cooperation, understanding, and strong faith in Allah, we are confident that we will surpass this challenge,” Ebrahim said.
CRMC is a Department of Health-operated hospital in Cotabato City, which opted to join the fledging region during a plebiscite held in January 2019. (PNA)
