The second batch of the medical equipment donated by the Chinese government has arrived in the county on Saturday. It was received in Parañaque City by Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. and some personnel from the Department of Health (DOH). Chief health program officer of the DOH’s Migrant Health Unit Dr. Joel Buenaventura said that the test kits, totaling 100,000, will be distributed from the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM) to sub-national laboratories. These test kits is called the Novel Coronavirus Nucleic Acid Diagnostic Kit (PCR-Fluorescence Probing).
Among the medical materials turned over by Chinese Ambassador Huang Xilian are 100,000 surgical masks, 10,000 pieces of n95 masks, and 10,000 personal protective equipment (PPE). These test kits that China donated are also RT-PCR-based and not serum-based, Buenaventura stated to the Philippine News Agency (PNA).
Meanwhile, the Philippine Army (PA) troops transported 70 camper mats on Friday. These mats were donated by bedroom furniture company Uratex Foam to Lung Center of the Philippines in Quezon City to be used by the medical professionals. The mats were transported through military trucks from the Canumay, Valenzuela City, the company’s factory.
On the other hand, the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) produced a total of 17,866 face masks for the government’s frontlines in combatting the spread of COVID-19. This was materialized through its Dressmaking NC II registered programs. These facemasks were given to front-line health workers, police officers, jails, hospitals, members of the media, local government units (LGUs) staffs, and of course, TESDA employees and their families.
In a statement, TESDA Director General Isidro S. Lapeña said, “TESDA has decided to do something in view of the reported lack of face masks throughout the country, and amid reports that when available, face masks are being sold at exorbitant prices. So, we are distributing our masks for free to those who are most at risk. In this way, they can continue performing their duties in relative safety.”
References:
- 100K Covid-19 test kits from China arrive in PH
- Soldiers transport mattress donation to QC hospital
- TESDA produces 17K face masks for Covid-19 front-liners
- Featured image: PHILIPPINES PH coronavirus cases rise to 307; deaths now at 19