DOH confirms 2nd
COVID-19 case in Caraga
By Doreen Marielle N. Rosales
BUTUAN CITY, Apr. 19 (PIA) -- The Department of Health (DOH) Caraga
confirmed the second case of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in the
region.
Patient P12COV is a 65-year old Filipino male with no known travel
history in the country or abroad. He has, however, interacted with a relative
who went to Davao City to participate in the Araw ng Dabaw six-cock-derby at
the New Davao Matina Gallera held last month.
Prior to the confirmation, the patient was initially identified as a
Patient Under Investigation (PUI) and tested negative on its first test.
However, according to Dr. Kenneth Jay-r Alberca, the medical specialist
of Caraga Regional Hospital (CRH), they had insisted that they conduct a second
test on the patient. In addition to his current health condition and his
engagement with the said relative, his chest X-ray results made him a likely
candidate to contract the disease.
Relevant to this, he also emphasized that apart from assessing the
patient’s current condition, pre-existing medical conditions and travel
history, there is also the need to take into consideration the conduct of tests
such X-ray and inflammatory markers as these can aid clinicians to make an
accurate assessment of determining COVID-19 patients.
At present, the patient is hospitalized at the Caraga Regional Hospital
in Surigao City. Albeit being given oxygen support, he is showing signs of
clinical improvement.
Health authorities are urging the public to be more compliant with the
health protocols set by the authorities as well as those implemented under the
Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ).
Amid the predicament, DOH Caraga regional director Dr. Jose Llacuna Jr.
reminded the public to continue to unite and cooperate with the authorities by
reporting to the health agency any individuals suspected of having the disease.
“The only way to meet the challenge is to meet it head-on,” the health
official affirmed.
Meanwhile, the first COVID-19-positive patient in the region has tested
negative on his third test. He was discharged on Saturday after he underwent an
appropriate assessment. (PIA-Caraga)
One town, one
'bayanihan’
By Doreen Marielle N. Rosales
In the face of a public health crisis, a small coastal town in Surigao
del Sur perseveres, proving that ‘bayanihan’ is very much alive.
The municipality of Bayabas is one of the 17 municipalities in the
province of Surigao del Sur under the first district. Among the primary
livelihood in the municipality is fishing and rice and coconut farming.
While the task to sustain its 9,301 residents seems daunting, municipal
mayor Maria Charita Garcia-Limbaro was quick to share about the strong sense of
volunteerism among the people in Bayabas and how it has greatly helped in their
whole COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019) operations.
“How I see it, the people in this town have a strong belief that genuine
success is gained collectively. We recognize the importance of one another in
the midst of trying times such as this, which is why almost everyone, if not
all, lends their cooperation almost instantly,” Limbago added.
Through the active engagement of the locals, the municipal government
was able to come up with sustainable interventions to the public health crisis.
While funding for such operations was a great concern, what they chose to focus
on was coming up with a concrete incident management that enabled them to truly
‘size up’ the situation.
This entailed meetings with local government and barangay officials as
well as concerned stakeholders which would be conducted every day, sometimes
more than once in a day, and a good understanding on the directives of the
provincial and national government.
They took the mountain of tasks pebble by pebble, working firstly on
implementing regulations that ensured the physical safety of the people.
Quarantine regulations such as the issuance of quarantine passes and
implementing curfew were the first to be accomplished, followed by the
distribution of goods to each family household.
Although food packs were distributed by the Department of Social Welfare
and Development (DSWD), Mayor Limbago knew these food packs won’t last for
days. They had to think of ways to sustain the assistance and equip families in
Bayabas throughout the calamity, which was projected to last for at least six
months.
It was almost impossible to depend on their Disaster Risk Reduction
Management (DRRM) funds, amounting to less than P4 million, to fund their
entire COVID-19 operations.
This prompted the local government to sacrifice funds for certain
projects and realign them to fund their Emergency Operations Center (EOC), the
central coordination and information center of the town’s COVID-19 response.
As quarantine measures were heightened across Caraga region, the
provincial government of Surigao del Sur provided additional funding for all of
its local government units. Municipalities were given P2 milion while cities
were given P4 million.
Mayor Limbago recalls feeling relieved for the additional assistance.
This enabled them to accomplish the distribution of food items for each family,
having provided a sack of rice and other food items right before the end of
Holy Week.
Again, she points to the unmeasured dedication of the officials in the
barangay level as well as the active participation of the people for the
success of the said operations. Proper information drive also played a huge
role in the process.
“We had to make sure that everyone understood the gravity of the
situation. When that was accomplished, everyone knew that they had to take part
in alleviating the crisis. Punong barangays remained proactive, as well as
their constituents,” Limbago said.
Leadership that cares
As Mayor Limbaro recounts the process she and her team had undergone in
dealing with the situation, one might think that governance may not be as
convoluted as it seems.
Admittedly, the current pandemic is by far the most damaging calamity
that has struck the municipality. While this naturally requires greater
interventions for mitigation, this inevitably creates an equally greater loss.
For the mayor, however, her determination to persevere through this
adversity is fueled by her belief in the importance of human life.
While the situation feels overwhelming, she tries to maintain a
realistic perspective in dealing with the situation. Every aspect in the
situation is scrutinized. This, she continued, will enable the leader to see
that in one way or the other, everyone suffers in such situations thereby
cultivating within them sensitivity to the needs of their people.
It is just important as well to assure people that the government is by
their side, not just through words, but also through actions.
“What this crisis teaches us is that there are limitations to everything
and in the end, we are given a moment to truly reflect on what we view as
essential to us,” she said.
Truly, to become an effective leader, one must strike a balance between
empathy and logic.
Collaborative compassion
The whole town is being manned by 313 frontline workers, a portion of
which are comprised of approximately 50 volunteers.
To enable efficient response to the situation, the local government made
sure that the EOC will be on-call 24/7, apart from its regular operations
schedule.
Due to the temporary suspension of transportation operations and of some
establishments, the EOC has also initiated the purchase of goods and medicines
from the nearby city, Tandag. Their residents can submit a list of the items
they wish to be purchased. This operates on a daily basis.
A community kitchen was also established to provide meals for the
frontline workers.
To mend the issues concerning the employment of their residents, apart
from the government’s programs that enable income-generating means, the local
government was able to find means to provide assistance, particularly those
with informal employment.
In the case of drivers, for instance, they rent their vehicles for the
delivery of goods to certain areas. They made sure that only few vehicles will
be operating so a shifting of renting vehicles was imposed. In that way, each
driver will receive ample income during quarantine period.
The local government has also converted their program for Dengue
prevention for such purpose. A community-based sanitation specifically for
COVID-19 is employed, wherein all residents in each barangay are required to
conduct household sanitation on the first Saturday of every month. Some
households even conduct sanitation more often than the given schedule.
Despite having been warned by the Department of Health to discontinue
sanitation, 11 sanitation tents will be set-up all over the town. Heeding the
authorities warning, frontline workers and those required disinfection will be
disinfected using a betadine and water solution.
At present, the local government is focusing on distributing the
assistance given to people through the government’s programs for the
marginalized sectors.
While 705 families have been identified as qualified beneficiaries, they
are now coming up ways to include those families who have not been documented
but just as qualified as well.
In addition, malnourished children were also given assistance amid the
health crisis. Determining beneficiaries never posed a problem, as such
children have already been identified through their Waging War with
Malnutrition and Adopt-a-Child programs. Each child is given food packs
containing nutrient-dense foods as well as multivitamins.
As it is a town that has a high regard for unity, it seemed as though
everyone is actively taking part in their local government’s actions to address
the current plight. Locals took part in their own ways, some donating needed
equipment while others contributing through the acts of volunteerism.
Even the youth remained just as active. Members of various youth
organizations such as the Philippine Army’s Propelling Our Inherited
Nation Through our Youth (POINTY), the Youth Ministry under the Catholic Church,
and those volunteering in their respective barangays took part in the
information dissemination, distributing information, education and
communication (IEC) materials to each household.
In addition, they were also tasked to keep and submit the COVID-19
Household Profile Form that keeps track of health status of each family
members.
Compassion seems to be a trait that was ingrained among the locals even
at an early age.
Even children are doing their
little ways to help, making cards containing inspiring messages for the
frontline workers. This, the mayor remarked, sparks joy among their
frontliners, motivating them further to continue their work.
In the face of great adversity, it is definitely a challenge to come
together and act for a common goal. The darkness that surrounds can sometimes
distract one from believing that there is that light at the end of the tunnel.
But the call for a greater cause must always motivate each one to push aside
the differences and ensue a collaborative compassion, trusting one another in
the process.
What the people of Bayabas town showed us that indeed, through
bayanihan, we heal as one. (DMNR/VLG/PIA-Caraga)
Test on 1st
coronavirus patient in Caraga yields negative result
BUTUAN CITY, April 19 -- The Department of Health (DOH) Caraga received
the second follow-up test result of the first confirmed positive of coronavirus
disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Caraga. This is the 68-year-old, male, patient from
Butuan City admitted at the Caraga Regional Hospital. The said result is
Negative.
The patient was discharged on Saturday following the assessment and
recommendation of the attending physician.
Furthermore, two Negative test results were received. The additional
results were from the suspect cases: a) 47 year old, male, Filipino, admitted
at Nasipit District Hospital and b) 38 year old, female, Filipino, who died at
Butuan Doctors’ Hospital.
“Again, we are reminding the public to adhere to the DOH health
advisories. We can beat COVID-19 by observing regular hand washing, proper
cough etiquette and physical distancing and/or just strictly stay at home,”
said DOH Caraga Regional Director Jose R. Llacuna, Jr.
Likewise, a team from the World Health Organization (WHO), Department of
Health Central and Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM) arrived on
Friday at the Adela Serra Ty Memorial Medical Center in Tandag City to evaluate
their application to be a sub-national laboratory of RITM for the confirmatory
testing of COVID-19. The same team will visit Caraga Regional Hospital in
Surigao City to check the hospital’s capacity for COVID-19 lab testing.
“Our DOH hospitals in the region are applying to become sub-national
laboratories of the RITM. We will comply with the requirements and we hope to
pass the certification,” Dr. Llacuna said. (DOH Caraga/PIA Caraga)
DOH Caraga reports
2nd confirmed COVID-19 case
BUTUAN CITY, April 19 –- The Department of Health (DOH) Caraga confirmed
Friday the second positive case for COVID-19 in the region. The tagged CA PUI
51, 65-year-old, male, Filipino from Butuan City, with no pre-existing medical
condition and is currently admitted at Caraga Regional Hospital has revealed a
Positive result in its follow-up test for the viral disease.
The said patient has no history of travel; however, he had close contact
with a relative who went to Davao for the Araw ng Dabaw six-cock Derby in New
Davao Matina Gallera last month. At present, the patient’s condition is
currently guarded with oxygen support but with signs of improvement. Further
contact tracing of the patient’s close contacts is on-going.
“We would like to reiterate to the public to stay at home and only go
out from your houses when necessary. If ever you will feel signs and symptoms
related to COVID-19, have close contacts to the known positive case or have
traveled to areas with local transmission, then please coordinate accordingly
to your health response teams or call our hotline numbers,” DOH Caraga Regional
Director Jose R. Llacuna, Jr. said.
Meanwhile, the city government of Butuan has already conducted Rapid
Antibody Testing.
Positive samples were forwarded to the Regional Epidemiology and
Surveillance Unit (RESU) of DOH Caraga subject for RT-PCR confirmatory test at
Southern Philippines Medical Center (SPMC) in Davao City. A total of 19 samples
were sent for confirmation in which 13 tested Negative. There are still samples
with pending lab results.
“Let us be responsible citizens and follow the advisories set by the DOH
and the local government units. By working together and by abiding to the laws,
we will beat COVID-19,” Dr. Llacuna concluded. (DOH Caraga/PIA Caraga)
