COTABATO CITY—A total of 31,900 sets of logistics, aiming to prevent the spread of Coronavirus Disease (Covid-19), were turned over by top health officials of the Bangsamoro Government’s Health Ministry Thursday, Jan. 7 to hospitals and health offices from Maguindanao and Lanao del Sur.
Officer-in-charge Minister of Health Dr. Amirel Usman stressed the logistics will help in the efforts of each hospital to fight against the virus, especially with the expected rise of infections in January, and the threat of new Covid-19 variant.
Dr. Usman said the logistics include 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.
The logistics were received by hospital chiefs and health officials of 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.
Next week, similar logistics will be turned over to hospitals and health offices in island provinces of Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi.
Executive Secretary Abdulraof Macacua said the arrival of 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.
Chiefs of hospitals and health offices also delivered their response messages.
APMC chief of hospital Dr. Shalimar Raki-in expressed gratitude from this support, and said they will continually 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,” Dr. Raki-in said.
The Bangsamoro Government, according to Dr. Usman, is set to procure Covid-19 vaccines with an allocation of 500 million pesos from the Office of the Chief Minster’s contingency fund.
The MOH is also set to hire health workers for intended for Covid-19 response under its fund for 2021. Dr. Usman said the delays of salaries of health workers in the past were due to procedural delays of budget from Department of Health central office, and these delays will be significantly avoided under the new scheme this year.
As of January 6, the region lodged seven new cases, making 2,579 total cases, with remaining 89 active cases, and 2,392 recoveries. (Bangsamoro Information Office)
