PUDTOL, Apayao – The Provincial Government of Apayao under the leadership of Governor Eleanor C. Bulut-Begtang formally turned over four (4) units of emergency health facilities to Amma Jadsac District Hospital (AJDH) Poblacion, Pudtol on Tuesday, November 17.
Gov. Leah along with Pudtol Mayor Hector Reuel Pascua led the turn-over and blessing of the facilities furnished with complete beddings, comfort room and air conditioner. The turned over ready-to-use units shall serve as temporary quarantine stations for health personnel or isolation rooms for probable, suspect or even COVID-19 positive cases.
In response to the upsurge of COVID-19 cases in the province, Gov. Leah approved the purchase of at least 36 facilities also known as prefabricated modular buildings to be distributed to all hospitals and border control points province-wide to ensure the safety and comfort of frontliners in the performance of their daunting task in curbing the spread of the virus.
“We are thankful that finally, despite the restrictions we had due to COVID-19, our hospitals already have these well-equipped facilities as additional quarantine rooms,” Gov. Leah said.
The Governor recognized the efforts and sacrifices of the health sector noting that without them risking their safety, the province could not have attained a low positivity rate compared to other provinces in the region.
She also commended all medical and health personnel in the various hospitals in the province for their effectiveness in preventing local transmission in their respective areas.
On top of the law-mandated five percent hazard pay for all health workers, Gov. Leah said she will be pushing for the completion of the 25% payment of hazard pay until she bows out as Governor of the province.
In response, AJDH Chief of Hospital Dr. Mary Elisa Galleon thanked the Governor for considering the plight of all health workers during this crisis. She said they will take to heart and put into action the message of the governor “to value and love their work” in order to serve the people of Apayao well.
To date, there are already 18 prefabricated modular buildings installed in different provincial border checkpoints and district hospitals including referral hospitals for symptomatic COVID-19 cases like Far North General Hospital and Training Center in Quirino, Luna and Conner District Hospital.
By GERRIAHZON S. SEBASTIAN