BAGUIO CITY – Regional and city health authorities welcomed the designation of the Baguio General Hospital and Medical Center (BGHMC) as one of the five tertiary hospitals in the country that had been accredited by the health department as a national testing center for the Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19).
DOH-CAR regional director Dr. Amelita M. Pangilinan said that BGHMC has available trained personnel who will be in charge of the testing of the samples taken from identified Persons Under Investigation (PUI) as well as the necessary facilities to undertake the said testing.
However, she admitted that health officials are only awaiting the arrival of the COVID-19 test kits from the Mandaluyong-based Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM) for BGHMC to be able to operate as a COVID-19 testing center in the north.
The DOH-CAR official admitted the country is experiencing a scarcity of COVID-19 testing kits as only 2,500 COVID-19 testing kits are available at the RITM where the same will be equitably distributed in the 5 designated testing centers around the country while awaiting for the procured supply of test kits from international suppliers.
According to her, the release of the COVID-19 test results will be faster once the same is done in the BGHMC so that the PUIs will not be anxious awaiting for their test results for a number of days that could contribute in possibly worsening their health condition.
Pangilinan claimed the trained BGHMC personnel who will be undertaking the COVID-19 tests have been provided with the necessary personal protective equipment and further trainings in the management of the deadly virus so that appropriate measures will be undertaken once there will be positive cases confirmed for COVID-19.
She asserted to date, the Cordillera remains to be COVID-19-free as the earlier 29 PUIs have completed their prescribed 14-day quarantine period and that their laboratory results turned out negative for the virus.
The DOH-CAR regional director emphasized that the issuance of Proclamation No. 922 by President Rodrigo Duterte declaring the COVID-19 as a public health emergency in the country will definitely contribute in efforts to formulate measures to combat the community transmission of the illness following the presence of confirmed local transmission and facilitate the procurement of appropriate medical equipment and supplies that will be distributed around the country to cater to the needs of confirmed COVID-19 cases.
Pangilinan called on the public to practice proper coughing and sneezing techniques; obtain information from legitimate new sources; wash hands regularly observing the proper handwashing techniques; eat nutritious food; refrain from gong to crowded places; only wear masks when necessary and no to serving and eating of raw and uncooked food.
Further, she stated people must be aware of what is happening in their neighborhood so that they will be able to help in reporting to the concerned health authorities those individuals that have history of travel inside and outside the country, especially in places that have confirmed COVID-19 cases for proper monitoring and surveillance.
By Dexter A. See