National Task Force (NTF) against Covid-19 and World Health Organization (WHO) highlighted the importance of preparedness and immediate response to combat future variants and surges.
During NTF’s Cabanatuan City vaccination site visit, WHO Representative to the Philippines Rabindra Abeyasinghe said the presence of the Omicron means that the government needs to improve its preparedness.
“What I have seen today, the temporary treatment and monitoring facility with 300 rooms, the oxygen plant, the expanded cold storage with ultra-cool storage facility…all these demonstrates the leadership and commitment that the local government of Cabanatuan City has shown in preparing in dealing with this pandemic and eventually in dealing with the arrival of new variants such as the Omicron,” he cited.
Abeyasinghe said with this, WHO is happy to partner with the national government in trying to protect as many Filipinos as possible through vaccination as part of the country’s preparations.
WHO and its partners from COVAX have fulfilled their pledge to the Philippine government by delivering close to 60 million Covid-19 vaccine doses, which is more than the 44 million doses they committed early this year.
“As we enjoy this relative lull ahead of the holiday season and the Christmas season, it is also an opportunity for us to prepare for the dark cloud on the horizon which is the Omicron. We need to do everything possible to use the vaccines that are with us now to protect as many people as possible in order to increase the population level immunity so that when the variant comes, its transmission will be low, we will not see an overwhelming of the hospitals, and we will not see people dying,” he said.
The WHO official said this and the Bayanihan Bakunahan 2 is an opportunity to prepare, as he urged the national government and the local governments to make the best use of this initiative to protect as many people as possible, with priority to vulnerable groups, elderlies, co-morbids, and indigents.
Providing added protection to healthcare workers, he said, is also a must so that the country is better equipped and stronger to deal with Omicron and other future variants when they come.
Meanwhile, he assured that WHO will continue to work and support the government, Department of Health and local government units in their efforts and lauded their commitment, dedication, and the results they have achieved.
For his part, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III stressed that everyone’s help is needed to successfully implement the massive national vaccination days.
The national government, local governments, nor the private sector alone cannot bear the weight of the challenge we face. The principle underpinning our response to this pandemic is a whole of government, whole of society, and whole of systems approach. We see that this is operational and is really quite effective,” he said.
Duque also urged the public to prepare for the worst-case scenario through vaccination, adding that it is better that they have protection to return to normal and restore the former vitality of the economy. (CLJD/MJSC-PIA 3)