Michael leyva creates PPE for health workers to beat COVID-19
Nathalie Tomada
From creating couture for the country’s top celebrities, fashion designer Michael Leyva has found a new purpose for his studio in this time of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) as a response to the country’s shortage of badly needed medical protective gear.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has been warning against the mounting disruption in the global supply of personal protective equipment (PPE) due to “rising demand, panic buying, hoarding and misuse,” putting the lives of doctors, nurses and other frontliners at risk.
As of Thursday, March 26, the Department of Health (DOH) had recorded 71 new confirmed COVID-19 cases or a total of 707. The medical community has lost several doctors to the disease.
Amid the enhanced community quarantine in Luzon, hospitals and health workers have taken to social media to call for help. Highlighting the scarcity, they have been improvising by using plastic trash bags or recyclable plastic containers to protect themselves from being infected or infecting their patients.
Leyva and his team have responded to the call by creating PPEs — at least 500 hazmat suits, head covers and 5,000 washable face masks have been finished so far. He is targeting to finish at least 3,000 hazmat suits in the next few days.
He said the PPE sets were designed according to DOH requirements.
“I checked some of the guidelines from the DOH — kung ano ’yung kailangan, from the zipper to where the opening and the hood should be (placed) as well as the comfort of the user — we had to consider all of that,” Leyva told The Philippine STAR in a phone interview.
He also sought information from various organizations and other groups regarding the “proper way of creating the PPE so that, at least, whatever we make and provide are of good quality.”
The hazmat suit, for one, is made of nonwoven, washable, waterproof fabric, which is the same material used for eco-bags.
Since Tuesday, Leyva has been distributing the PPE sets to at least eight hospitals, including facilities near his residence and studio in Antipolo City. On Thursday, Leyva was joined by Angel Locsin in delivering PPE sets that he and his team made.
Among the recipients of the PPE are the country’s designated COVID-19 referral centers such as the University of the Philippines-General Hospital (UP-PGH) and the Lung Center of the Philippines, which on Monday sounded the alarm on its shortage of PPE supplies.
“We have been receiving more requests from other hospitals.
Parang natuwa naman ’yung frontliners nung nalaman nila na kahit daw lab
gown (magkaroon) sila ng Michael Leyva. We’re hoping to accommodate all of them,” he said.
Instead of his name, the “laboratory or lab gowns” will carry Bible verses that he hopes will bring inspiration to the frontliners.
Leyva also stressed that the PPE sets they are making are not for sale: “A lot of people are asking for the price like, for example, (actress) Angel Locsin because she wants to donate also to LGUs (local government units).
Kaso ’di talaga siya for sale, it’s meant to be donated to the frontliners.”
He hopes more members of the fashion industry can help equip the country’s health workers in the war against the coronavirus pandemic.
“I think as designers, since we have a production already, that’s the best way to help our frontliners,” he said.
He admitted that the times are making him sad and worried, but he believes he’s in a better situation compared to Filipinos, especially health workers, who still have to leave their homes and report for work amid the crisis.
“I keep on telling myself na maswerte tayo kasi nasa bahay lang tayo ngayon, naiinip tayo, nahihirapan tayo, but how about these people? How are they feeling right now that they are fighting this kind of battle? It’s hard. In our own little way, I think, it could bring them smiles and assurance that we’re here and we’re willing to help you, para sa bayan,” Leyva said.
He said his own business, with over 40 employees, is also affected by the COVID-19 situation “because we stopped operations.”
“But what I did was to open the operations again for some 15 members of my staff — since not all can report for work because of the quarantine — so that they can also earn income from making these PPE and at the same time help in these times. I hope what we’re doing will make a difference in the work of our frontliners,” he said.