Mabalacat gov’t steps up Anti-Covid Program

MABALACAT CITY – COVID-19 prevention, management and treatment here goes on a high gear as the city government implements a renewed approach to curb thescourge.

Mayor Crisostomo Garbo said that a new program will be implemented, giving more push on four aspects: prevention, tracing, isolation and reintegration.

Dubbed as Covid 19 Response Integrated System, the program also calls for the establishment of rooms for isolation and for quarantineofpatients with mild symptoms.

These will be located at the city hall annex of Mabalacat City LGU. “This is a program that is parallel to what is being implemented by higher authorities like the DOH and it is also in conjunction to the program of the Provincial Government,” Garbo said.

Garbo said that under the prevention aspect of the program, vaccines, aside from those coming from the national and provincial level, will be procured by the city government.

It will also seek more testing kits in order to check against the spread of the virus. “Ito po lahat ay bilang karagdagan pa sa kasalukuyang programa ng pamahalaan na kung saan ay pinag-iibayo pa ng siyudad ang kampanya para sa kapakanan ng mga Mabalaqueno,” Garbo sai d.

Garbo also said that the program will have a tele-medicine and teleconsult with its Home Care Package (HCP) feature under the isolation aspect where doctors will be consulted

and patients checked online or via the internet.

The HCP, including the operation of isolation, infirmary and quarantine facilities, will be directly supervised by renowned neurosurgeon and COVID-19 operation specialist Dr. Jay Rivera who was recently tapped by the City Government.

Rivera, for his part, said that telemedicine would be critical in monitoring patientswhile at the same time keep doctors safe. He cited in particular the use of portable X-Ray where results are sent electronically for reading and impressions via messaging platforms.

The City Government has earmarked funding for the operation of new isolation, infirmary and quarantine facilities, including the procurement of necessary medical equipment such as beds, x-ray machines, oxygen monitors, medicines andother medical apparatus and supplies.