BATTLING COVID-19. BARMM Executive Secretary Abdulraof Macacua (2nd from right) and Dr. Helen Quiambao, chief of Cotabato Regional and Medical Center (2nd from left) show the deed of donation of health logistics during turnover rites Thursday (Jan. 7, 2021) at the MOH-BARMM office. MOH-BARMM acting minister Dr. Amirel Usman said similar logistics will be turned over to hospitals and health offices in the island-provinces of Basilan, Sulu, and Tawi-Tawi next week. (Photo from BIO-BARMM)
COTABATO CITY – Health officials in the Bangsamoro Region turned over on Thursday various logistics in the fight against coronavirus disease (Covid-19) to hospitals and health offices in Maguindanao and Lanao del Sur.
A total of 31,900 sets of logistics were turned over to health officials aimed at improving the capability of health stations to prevent the spread of the virus.
Dr. Amirel Usman, Ministry of Health – BARMM acting minister, said Friday the logistics will help in the effort of each hospital to fight against the virus, especially with the expected rise of infections in January, and the threat of a new Covid-19 variant.
The logistics included 14,500 sets of personal protective equipment, 11,500 boxes of three-ply medical grade face mask, 3,000 medical gloves, 400 boxes of rapid antigen test kits, 2,500 hygiene kits, and 22 sets of air filters. Beneficiaries of the logistics were the Cotabato Regional and Medical Center (CRMC), Amai Pakpak Medical Center (APMC), Cotabato Sanitarium Hospital, Datu Blah T. Sinsuat District Hospital, Marawi City Health Office, Integrated Provincial Health Office of Lanao Del Sur, Integrated Provincial Health Office of Maguindanao.
Usman said similar logistics will be turned over to hospitals and health offices in the island-provinces of Basilan, Sulu, and Tawi-Tawi next week.
BARMM Executive Secretary Abdulraof Macacua said the arrival of the pandemic brought new learning and opportunities to learn and value our health.
“We will treat this pandemic, not as a challenge but an opportunity,” Macacua said.
During the turnover program, various chiefs of hospitals and health offices also delivered their response messages.
APMC chief of the hospital Dr. Shalimar Raki-in thanked for the support, saying they will continue to support the programs of the regional health ministry.
“We are thankful for the logistics support for this will greatly help in lessening the possible surge of infections in Lanao del Sur,” Raki-in said.
The BARMM, Usman said, is set to procure Covid-19 vaccines with an allocation of PHP500 million from the Office of the Chief Minster’s contingency fund.
Usman said MOH-BARMM is also set to hire health workers for Covid-19 response under its fund for 2021.
He said the delays in salaries of health workers in the past were due to procedural delays of the budget from the Department of Health central office.
These delays will be significantly avoided under the new scheme this year, he added.
To date, BARMM has 2,579 confirmed Covid-19 cases with 2,392 recoveries, 98 deaths, and 89 active cases. (PNA)
