COVID-19 BATTLE. Appointment papers of newly hired medical professionals signed by Manila Mayor 'Isko Moreno' Domagoso. The workers will augment the current health care workers in the city, amid the rising cases of Covid-19. (Photo grabbed from Isko Moreno Domagoso FB page)
MANILA – The city government of Manila has hired about a thousand more medical personnel since the onset of the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic in the country to augment the current health care workers in its six public hospitals.
In a Facebook post on Tuesday, Manila Mayor "Isko Moreno" Domagoso said he recently signed the appointment papers of seven doctors, two medical technicians, six nurses, and 16 administrative officers and staff.
Domagoso said he is in constant communication with the directors and officials of the six city-run hospitals –– the Gat Andres Bonifacio Memorial Medical Center, Ospital ng Sampaloc, Justice Jose Abad Santos Medical Center, Ospital ng Sta. Ana, Ospital ng Maynila, and Ospital ng Tondo.
After the appeal made by health care front-liners in Metro Manila, Domagoso, together with Vice Mayor Honey Lacuna, met with the directors, doctors, and the health sector group of Manila to hear their concerns.
“We adopted solutions to respond to the requests of our doctors, nurses, and medical health workers, on how to give them relief on their current situation made difficult by the rising number of patients due to the Covid-19 pandemic,” Domagoso said in a mix of Tagalog and English.
After their discussion, he said they came up with internal policies and plans within the medical institutions.
Despite the difficult situation faced by the different hospitals in the city, Domagoso was given assurance by the hospital directors that the city’s health care system is doing well.
Meanwhile, Domagoso admitted that the city hospital’s bed capacity is now at 85 percent.
With this, he again reminded Manilenyos to take care of their health and always follow the imposed safety protocols.
"Ingatan niyo na sarili niyo, disiplinahin niyo na, dahil susunod nyan pag punong-puno na, sa kalsada na kayo gagamutin, sa court na kayo gagamutin sa barangay hall o kalsada na kayo matutulog. Wala pong paglalagakan kaya kailangan natin ingat lang (Please take care of yourselves, discipline yourselves because if not, next time you will be placed on the streets, in basketball courts, barangay halls. We will have no place to treat you, so please take care of yourselves)," he told the public.
Currently, Manila has 12 quarantine facilities, while another one is being built with about 60-bed capacity at the Manuel L. Quezon University (MLQU).
The basketball court of the Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila (PLM) is now also being developed and the San Andres Complex will be re-equipped, redesigned, and retrofitted for the possible surge or need for more quarantine facilities.
Domagoso said by the end of the month or within the first week of September, the city will have 15 quarantine facilities.
Meanwhile, Manila’s free Covid-19 testing centers –– which include the two drive-thrus, three walk-ins and two mobile –– will continue amid the reimposed modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ) in Metro Manila. (PNA)
