DOH says 'ready' if another pandemic breaks out | ABS-CBN
Welcome, Kapamilya! We use cookies to improve your browsing experience. Continuing to use this site means you agree to our use of cookies. Tell me more!
DOH says 'ready' if another pandemic breaks out
DOH says 'ready' if another pandemic breaks out
Members of the hospital housekeeping staff at the Amang Rodriguez Hospital in Marikina City dispose healthcare waste into a containment facility on September 30, 2020. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News/file
Members of the hospital housekeeping staff at the Amang Rodriguez Hospital in Marikina City dispose healthcare waste into a containment facility on September 30, 2020. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News/file Healthcare worker Salome Ejes still sheds tears every time she recounts her experience of being infected with COVID-19 thrice at the height of the pandemic.
Healthcare worker Salome Ejes still sheds tears every time she recounts her experience of being infected with COVID-19 thrice at the height of the pandemic.
"Alam mo iyong feeling na, 'Makakauwi ba ako nang buhay?'" she told ABS-CBN News. "Iyong second COVID ko, ang sakit huminga. Nangangatog ka; wala kang panlasa, wala kang pang-amoy."
"Alam mo iyong feeling na, 'Makakauwi ba ako nang buhay?'" she told ABS-CBN News. "Iyong second COVID ko, ang sakit huminga. Nangangatog ka; wala kang panlasa, wala kang pang-amoy."
"Noong time na naka-survive, nagpasalamat talaga ako sa Diyos. We see to it po na iyong family laging may contact kahit sa kaunting panahon," she added.
"Noong time na naka-survive, nagpasalamat talaga ako sa Diyos. We see to it po na iyong family laging may contact kahit sa kaunting panahon," she added.
Ejes still works as a ward clerk at the Philippine Heart Center.
Ejes still works as a ward clerk at the Philippine Heart Center.
ADVERTISEMENT
But it's a different story for Larry Muñoz, whose livelihood had to adjust because of the pandemic.
But it's a different story for Larry Muñoz, whose livelihood had to adjust because of the pandemic.
From being a construction worker, he learned how to cook and is now a street food vendor.
From being a construction worker, he learned how to cook and is now a street food vendor.
"Kapag malakasan, hindi naman bababa sa P8,000 ang kita sa araw-araw. Tsaka hindi rin bababa sa P5,000 [araw-araw]," he said.
"Kapag malakasan, hindi naman bababa sa P8,000 ang kita sa araw-araw. Tsaka hindi rin bababa sa P5,000 [araw-araw]," he said.
His biggest takeaway from the pandemic?
His biggest takeaway from the pandemic?
"Mag-negosyo na lang talaga para makakain... Para matawid gutom sa pamilya," Muñoz said.
"Mag-negosyo na lang talaga para makakain... Para matawid gutom sa pamilya," Muñoz said.
It was on March 15, 2020 when a lockdown was first implemented in NCR due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which was then followed suit by the rest of the country.
It was on March 15, 2020 when a lockdown was first implemented in NCR due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which was then followed suit by the rest of the country.
Four years since that day, the Department of Health (DOH) said it is ready should there be another pandemic.
Four years since that day, the Department of Health (DOH) said it is ready should there be another pandemic.
"The DOH is categorically ready, that is correct. As to how ready, no one in this world is 100 percent ready. Even the WHO itself was not prepared when COVID-19 came out... We cannot be caught, kumbaga, flatfooted, na parang nakatunganga tayo tapos nagre-relax. Hindi p’wede, dapat ready tayo. Insofar as the Philippines and the DOH is concerned, we are ready," said DOH Asec. Albert Domingo.
"The DOH is categorically ready, that is correct. As to how ready, no one in this world is 100 percent ready. Even the WHO itself was not prepared when COVID-19 came out... We cannot be caught, kumbaga, flatfooted, na parang nakatunganga tayo tapos nagre-relax. Hindi p’wede, dapat ready tayo. Insofar as the Philippines and the DOH is concerned, we are ready," said DOH Asec. Albert Domingo.
PRIMARY HEALTH CARE
Aside from hospitals, the DOH is also preparing primary health care facilities so that patients have somewhere to go to in case of another health emergency, such as a pandemic.
Aside from hospitals, the DOH is also preparing primary health care facilities so that patients have somewhere to go to in case of another health emergency, such as a pandemic.
"Moving forward, we have learned our lessons and we now know better. The UHC Act is still our reference, and it is the order of President Marcos to strengthen primary health care to prepare us for the next pandemic," DOH Sec. Ted Herbosa said in a statement.
"Moving forward, we have learned our lessons and we now know better. The UHC Act is still our reference, and it is the order of President Marcos to strengthen primary health care to prepare us for the next pandemic," DOH Sec. Ted Herbosa said in a statement.
Domingo explained this also encompasses the whole health system.
Domingo explained this also encompasses the whole health system.
"‘Pag sinabi nating health system, iyong bilang ng kama, bilang ng ospital, bilang ng doktor. Hindi tayo dapat palaging umasa lang sa ospital," he said.
"‘Pag sinabi nating health system, iyong bilang ng kama, bilang ng ospital, bilang ng doktor. Hindi tayo dapat palaging umasa lang sa ospital," he said.
"So that was a very strong lesson, moving forward from the pandemic to prepare for the next one. Kasi it's not a matter of 'if', but a matter of 'when'. Iyong sinasabi na 'disease X' - ibig sabihin hindi pa natin alam. Pero mangyayari iyan. We have to be ready with facilities, not the hospital level but at the level of primary care," he added.
"So that was a very strong lesson, moving forward from the pandemic to prepare for the next one. Kasi it's not a matter of 'if', but a matter of 'when'. Iyong sinasabi na 'disease X' - ibig sabihin hindi pa natin alam. Pero mangyayari iyan. We have to be ready with facilities, not the hospital level but at the level of primary care," he added.
Based on data compiled by the ABS-CBN Investigative and Research Group, the Philippines recorded its highest daily COVID cases of 38,775 on January 15, 2022, which has dipped to an average of 36 cases daily during the week of February 27 to March 4, 2024.
Based on data compiled by the ABS-CBN Investigative and Research Group, the Philippines recorded its highest daily COVID cases of 38,775 on January 15, 2022, which has dipped to an average of 36 cases daily during the week of February 27 to March 4, 2024.
A total of 179,046,746 doses of vaccines have been administered, as of March 19, 2023 based on the latest update of the National COVID-19 Vaccination dashboard
A total of 179,046,746 doses of vaccines have been administered, as of March 19, 2023 based on the latest update of the National COVID-19 Vaccination dashboard
According to the DOH, only 10 percent of ICU beds for COVID are occupied, and 11 percent for non-ICU beds.
According to the DOH, only 10 percent of ICU beds for COVID are occupied, and 11 percent for non-ICU beds.
"Out of the 1,185 dedicated COVID-19 ICU beds available today, only 115 (10%) were occupied, while only 1,119 (11%) of the 10,097 dedicated COVID-19 non-ICU beds were in use. There were 156 severe and critical cases admitted in various hospitals due to COVID-19," the agency said.
"Out of the 1,185 dedicated COVID-19 ICU beds available today, only 115 (10%) were occupied, while only 1,119 (11%) of the 10,097 dedicated COVID-19 non-ICU beds were in use. There were 156 severe and critical cases admitted in various hospitals due to COVID-19," the agency said.
All of these have contributed to why the World Health Organization (WHO) is no longer treating COVID as a global health emergency since May 5, 2023 - while the Philippines lifted the public health emergency on July 21, 2023.
All of these have contributed to why the World Health Organization (WHO) is no longer treating COVID as a global health emergency since May 5, 2023 - while the Philippines lifted the public health emergency on July 21, 2023.
But for strategies like wearing of face mask, physical distancing, isolation, lockdown, and school closure – which is the most effective?
But for strategies like wearing of face mask, physical distancing, isolation, lockdown, and school closure – which is the most effective?
"What is always effective is the face mask. The psychological cause and the extra cause is minimal and smaller than other things, and the impact is large… What is always not effective is school closure... The students who do not go to school after closure, they actually indeed infect somewhere else: at home, with their friends... The disease burden for the young generation is low, and the learning loss for after school closure is huge," said Hyuncheol Bryant Kim, Associate Professor of Hong Kong University of Science and Technology's Department of Economics during an Asian Development Bank (ADB) forum Thursday.
"What is always effective is the face mask. The psychological cause and the extra cause is minimal and smaller than other things, and the impact is large… What is always not effective is school closure... The students who do not go to school after closure, they actually indeed infect somewhere else: at home, with their friends... The disease burden for the young generation is low, and the learning loss for after school closure is huge," said Hyuncheol Bryant Kim, Associate Professor of Hong Kong University of Science and Technology's Department of Economics during an Asian Development Bank (ADB) forum Thursday.
HEALTH CARE WORKERS
Can health care workers still take on another pandemic?
Can health care workers still take on another pandemic?
"Hindi po tayo ready, lalong-lalo ngayon na may exodus ang ating health care workers, especially nurses, midwives, nursing attendants at iba pang health care workers. Hindi po tayo ready sa usapin ng human resources," said Robert Mendoza, national president of the Alliance of Health Workers.
"Hindi po tayo ready, lalong-lalo ngayon na may exodus ang ating health care workers, especially nurses, midwives, nursing attendants at iba pang health care workers. Hindi po tayo ready sa usapin ng human resources," said Robert Mendoza, national president of the Alliance of Health Workers.
"Prior to the pandemic, meron na talaga tayong chronic understaffing... Kung wala na talagang matitirang health workers sa ating bansa dahil sa kababaan ng sahod, possible babagsak ang ating health care system," he added.
"Prior to the pandemic, meron na talaga tayong chronic understaffing... Kung wala na talagang matitirang health workers sa ating bansa dahil sa kababaan ng sahod, possible babagsak ang ating health care system," he added.
Mendoza is dismayed that nothing has changed on issues hounding the health care delivery system.
Mendoza is dismayed that nothing has changed on issues hounding the health care delivery system.
"Kasi alam natin nandyan pa rin ang chronic understaffing, mababa ang sahod, demoralized pa rin ang health workers, delayed ang benepisyo... Talagang hindi siya sapat sa pagbibigay ng libreng serbisyong pangkalusugan," he said.
"Kasi alam natin nandyan pa rin ang chronic understaffing, mababa ang sahod, demoralized pa rin ang health workers, delayed ang benepisyo... Talagang hindi siya sapat sa pagbibigay ng libreng serbisyong pangkalusugan," he said.
Meantime, Domingo guaranteed help for their ranks.
Meantime, Domingo guaranteed help for their ranks.
"We are looking at better working conditions... DOH is working with the DBM [Department of Budget and Management], and lately the Commission on Audit. Ano bang mga balakid bakit hindi pa mabigay iyong health emergency allowance? Kasi sabi nga namin sa ospital, kailangang gawan ng paraan... ‘Pag buhay ng tao ang pinag-uusapan, sino bang sumasaklolo? Ang health care workers. So tulungan natin sila," he said.
"We are looking at better working conditions... DOH is working with the DBM [Department of Budget and Management], and lately the Commission on Audit. Ano bang mga balakid bakit hindi pa mabigay iyong health emergency allowance? Kasi sabi nga namin sa ospital, kailangang gawan ng paraan... ‘Pag buhay ng tao ang pinag-uusapan, sino bang sumasaklolo? Ang health care workers. So tulungan natin sila," he said.
RELATED VIDEO
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
