Cebu City to assess health care system amid threats of new COVID-19 variant

CEBU, Philippines —  Amid threats of the new variant of COVID-19, the Cebu City government is set to conduct an assessment of the current situation of its healthcare system.

Emergency Operations Center (EOC) deputy chief implementer and Councilor Joel Garganera said an assessment is needed due to the threats posed by Omicron variant.

“This is the best time to prepare for the next surge,” Garganera said.

The assessment is expected to take place right after the three-day national vaccination, which started yesterday. At present, the city has 51 active cases of COVID-19 from 23 out of the 80 barangays of the city.

“Maayo atong kaso…ubos atong mga kaso, so ato ni’ng preparahan,” said Garganera.

He said there is a need to check on the health care facilities and staffing after receiving reports that many health care workers have either transferred or left abroad for greener pasture.

“Naa tay mga beds, but wala tay personnel. Naay mga nang transfer, daghan sad ni larga. Kuyawan sad ko ana… It’s a question of staffing,” he explained.

To recall, the Department of Health (DOH)-7 had to hire more nurses to augment the hospitals—both public and private---in Cebu City during the past three surges of COVID cases due to lack of personnel.

Garganera said they also need to check on the inventory of medicines.

“Ang tambal… unsa nang mga tambala, wala ta ana…also new meds,” he added.

Reports had it that during the third surge, Cebuanos were forced to buy medicines from the black market out of desperation due to scarce supply. Most hospitals reportedly ran out of stocks amid the high number of admissions.

Garganera said that isolation facilities should also be looked into after most Barangay Isolation Centers (BICs) have already been closed. Aside from that, the city also needs to continuously guide and guard the locals in observing minimum health protocols against COVID-19 even those vaccinated individuals.

Garganera, however, said that he was pleased to see many Cebuanos going out to get vaccinated against the dreaded virus. — FPL (FREEMAN)