Are local gov’ts equipped to take on nCoV?

PHOTO BY IAN PAUL CORDERO/PN
FILE PHOTO BY IAN PAUL CORDERO/PN

ILOILO City – The Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) has ordered local government units (LGUs) in Western Visayas to create coronavirus task forces.

According to Regional Director Ariel Iglesia, LGUs must be “on a state of preparedness” and take proactive steps to protect their constituents from the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV).

The virus causes severe acute respiratory infection and symptoms usually start with a fever, followed by a dry cough.

“According to DILG secretary Eduardo Año, LGUs must implement Department of Health (DOH) protocols and guidelines and extend full cooperation to DOH and other government agencies to meet the global health emergency,” said Iglesia.

The Philippines now has three confirmed cases of infection – a Chinese man and woman visiting the country; the man died on Saturday; and a 60-year-old Chinese woman.

The virus outbreak in China, with cases spreading in over 20 other countries, prompted the World Health Organization to declare a global health emergency.

Iglesia said the local task forces under the direct supervision of governors and mayors should ensure that local health authorities have the necessary equipment and protective gadgets such as masks, goggles, gowns, gloves, among others.

He suggested that the task force be composed of health workers and persons and groups with adequate knowhow on crisis management.

Iglesia said the task force should also cause the referral and transport of a suspected nCov case to DOH-designated coronavirus-referral center or hospital, in coordination with DOH and police authorities.

For this, local chief executives must train their respective health workers on nCoV prevention, containment, and control, in coordination with the DOH, said Iglesia.

Another job of the task force is to hold coronavirus prevention, containment and control information campaign to educate the public.

LGUs should post public advisories about the coronavirus as well as precautionary measures that the public can take such as maintaining proper hygiene and regular hand-washing, said Iglesia.

Aside from forming the task forces, Iglesia said LGUs must also create “barangay health emergency response teams” in villages.

The teams may be made up of barangay officials and volunteers such as Barangay Health Workers, said Iglesia.

The primary job of barangay health emergency response teams is to monitor the entry of people in the villages, most especially tourists from areas with nCoV cases, and coordinate with the DOH and the LGUs’ task forces./PN

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here