The two government hospitals in the forefront of the battle against the COVID-19 coronavirus have been getting the bulk of assistance from the private sector, especially on critically needed medical supplies and personal protection equipment (PPEs) for their front liners.
The Northern Mindanao Medical Center (NMMC) as the only COVID-19 referral hospital in Northern Mindanao (Region X) has been getting a steady stream of assistance from the private sector.
On April 3, the Cagayan de Oro Filipino-Chinese Community delivered 250 sets of PPEs manufactured in South Korea worth P450, 000 to NMMC as the second batch of its P1-M assistance earlier committed to the hospital.
Last March 23, the same group turned over the first truckload of locally purchased supplies to NMMC worth P365,000 including 60 cartons rubbing alcohol and sanitizing gel, two units knapsack sprayer, 12 pails disinfectant solution (chlorine), safety goggles, rubber boots, protective raincoats with pants, face shields, and 50 cartons disposable water tissues/paper towels.
Meantime, the J.R.Borja General Hospital owned and managed by the city government has also been getting a steady stream of PPEs and other medical supplies from the private sector, especially the Rotary Clubs under Zone 1 Council of Presidents headed by Rosalinda Caragos.
However, some of the front liners in the city’s other private hospitals have found themselves scrambling for PPEs and other needed supplies since most donations have been going to NMMC and JRBGH.
When nurses from the Cagayan de Oro Polymedic Medical Plaza Hemodialysis Unit found themselves short of PPEs like gowns, face masks and shields, civic minded citizens quickly stepped in to assist them.
Under the strategy adopted by the Regional and City Health offices, COVID-19 patients are exclusively referred to NMMC while JRBGH’s role is to take in as many non-COVID cases as they can accommodate to give NMMC’s personnel and facilities as much slack as possible to deal with the outbreak.
First to answer the call for assistance was the United Church of the Philippines Cagayan de Oro City Church (UCCP-CdO) where a dedicated group of church workers have been toiling daily to produce face masks, face shields and PPE gowns for front liners.
Not quite a day later, Ms. Irene Floro, former Oro Chamber President and herself a registered nurse, coordinated with PCCI Area Vice President for Mindanao Ma. Teresa Alegrio to secure PPEs from STEAG State Power Inc. which were quickly turned over to the CDO Polymedic Plaza nurses.
The campaign to curb the spread of the virus was further bolstered on April 1st when the city government received the first batch of PPEs and medical supplies it earlier purchased consisting of 1,400 boxes of protective masks, 2,000 boxes gloves, and 100 gallons of alcohol.
The initial shipment has been prioritized for the use of the BHERTS [Barangay Health Emergency Response Teams] who have been conducting a house-to-house assessment of PUM residents.
A further shipment of 500 PPEs and 100 thermal guns were received on April 3 by the city government for distribution to front liners in NMMC and JRBGH. (RMB)
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