PATIENT CARE CENTER. Mati City in Davao Oriental opens it first patient care center for suspected cases of Covid-19 on Sunday (April 26, 2020). The facility was named as the Isolation Unit of the Divine Healer and is capable of handling 14 patients at a time. (Photo courtesy of Mati CIO)
DAVAO CITY – Mati City in Davao Oriental opened on Sunday its first patient care center for suspected cases of coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19).
Ben Jason Tesiorna, city information officer, said in an interview that the facility was named as the Isolation Unit of the Divine Healer and is capable of handling 14 patients at a time. There is also another building designated for triage.
He said the blessing and turnover of the facility were attended by Mayor Michelle Rabat, Vice Mayor Glenda Rabat, Rep. Mayo Almario and Incident Management Team (IMT) for Covid-19 head, Dr. Ben Hur Catbagan Jr.
The city government spent some PHP5 million for the said facility which has air-conditioning systems, Wi-Fi connection, television set, and other amenities.
“A separate building for the front-liners that will take care of the patients on a 24/7 basis would serve as their quarters. There is also an ongoing rehabilitation of another building within the compound,” Tesiorna told the Philippine News Agency.
Mayor Rabat said another building will also be rehabilitated to add more isolation rooms in the event of an increase in the number of suspected Covid-19 cases in the city.
She said the funding will come from the national government through the "Bayanihan to Heal as One Act".
The mayor said the fight against Covid-19 would most probably last for months until such time a vaccine is produced, thus they find it appropriate for Mati City to have its own facility to ensure that those possibly infected with the virus would readily be isolated and treated to arrest the spread of the infection.
Catbagan said in ordinary circumstances or even an epidemic, surge facilities like the Isolation Unit of the Divine Healer would not be necessary, but are critical during a pandemic. (PNA)
