CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga– Over 100 doctors and other health professionals underwent training on Monday to properly respond in handling cases of Novel Coronavirus or 2019- nCoV in the province.
This, after Governor Dennis “Delta” Pineda asked the Provincial Health Office (PHO) with the help from Jose B. Lingad Memorial Regional Hospital (JBLMRH), and Department of Health (DOH) to train the group of doctors and medical workers who will serve as front line personnel.
“Ngayon nagkakaisa ang lalawigan ng Pampanga, Angeles city, and Clark para maging united ang approach sa paglaban natin sa sakit na ito,” Angelina Blanco, special assistant to the governor said.
Medical personnel from the different district hospitals, and health representatives from Angeles City and Clark Development Corporation (CDC) attended the training held at the Benigno Aquino Hall here.
Dr. Jay Rivera, team leader of the group, meanwhile assured the group of medical specialist that all necessary assistance will be provided by the provincial government.
“Don’t worry, the provincial government has committed to provide all your PPE’s [Personal Protective Equipment] like groves, N-95 Masks, gown, goggles, soonest this week for your safety and protection, “he said.
Relative to this, Dr. Marcelo Jaochico, provincial health officer, told the trained medical doctors to ‘rationally’ use PPEs as district hospitals are facing shortage on face masks.
“Only those at the front line, personnel assigned in the ER [Emergency Room] are advised to use face mask. Not everyone are advised to wear face masks, because it would cause panic among people if they see health care workers wear face masks,” Jaochico reiterated.
Jaochico said the training is very timely as the knowledge gained could be used in treating and managing other epidemic and illnesses.
Moreover, the provincial government is also set to conduct a health summit to be attended by the barangay health workers and personnel from private hospitals this week to maximize monitoring and controlling of the entry of virus in the province.
As of press time, no suspected cases of 2019- nCoV have been reported in the province.