Cebu City gets more help in fight versus COVID-19

CEBU, Philippines —  The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has donated over a million worth of supplies and equipment to boost Cebu City government’s vaccination program.

The donation was made through Research Triangle International (RTI), a USAID partner. Among the items donated to the city’s vaccination center include computer sets, printers, filing cabinets, tables, monobloc chairs, and bond papers.

USAID and RTI are also extending assistance in hiring medical personnel to augment the manpower needed for the vaccination rollout. Additional nurses and medical technologists will be hired to help out personnel from the City Health Department in the vaccination program.

The United States government is also sending a cold storage facility to Cebu City, said Anita Bonsubre of RTI. She said they have been assisting the city government for several years now, with last year and this year, focused on COVID-19 response.

Bonsubre said the city remains a priority for their assistance based on the study made by the World Health Organization.

The RTI and USAID also helped train barangay health emergency response teams as well as supported isolation sites by giving out mattresses and helped out in negotiation with Philhealth for accreditation.

Aside from the vaccination program, RTI and USAID are also extending their help to the city government by strengthening swabbing and contact tracing efforts here.

Bonsumbre said they are going to meet with the key officials of the Emergency Operations Center for a round table discussion and assess what help is needed from them.

Mayor Edgardo Labella expressed his gratitude to the American government for the continued support to the city. — FPL (FREEMAN)