Baguio eyes own molecular lab against Covid-19
BAGUIO is bent on putting up its own molecular laboratory to double efforts in detecting and containing the dreaded Coronavirus Disease (Covid-19).
Already, the Baguio General Hospital and Medical Center (BGHMC) is an accredited sub-national testing laboratory for Covid-19 in Northern Luzon.
But Mayor Benjamin Magalong said the city government is willing to spend up to P15-million more if only to make its own lab operational within the next two to three months.
Once installed, the lab would greatly speed up determination of the extent of infection in the city and the Cordilleras; improve contact tracing to contain the virus at the soonest possible time; and facilitate timely medical intervention to those infected by Covid-19.
These, while the world awaits discovery of a vaccine that would finally put an end to the disease.
Magalong revealed, the national government through national Anti - Covid action plan chief implementer Carlito Galvez, Jr. is ready to pitch in a Reverse Transmission Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) machine, an automated extraction machine and a bio-security cabinet, all amounting to P7.1-million.
Earlier, the mayor lauded Galvez for being instrumental in the delivery of 3,000-rapid
test kits and P10.2-million worth of personal protective equipment (PPEs), which included 5,000-body suits, 5,000-face shields, 5,000-pairs of shoe covers, 5,000-lab gowns, and 5,000 N-95-masks, among others.
On the other hand, Magalong proposed, other tools and equipment required to secure accreditation from the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM) could be sourced through private partners willing to enter into a joint venture with the city.
In a worst case scenario, the mayor added, the lab could address possible “second wave” of infections that may cripple the city’s economy anew, especially with the seeming nonchalance of people that accompanies the gradual reopening of businesses in the city.
Magalong stated the city’s molecular laboratory and the hiring of trained personnel to man it will form part of the city government’ recovery and resiliency plan that would usher a “new normal.”