Safety measures in place at DSWD

CEBU, Philippines — The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD)-7 has instituted various safety and preventive measures to protect its employees from possible COVID-19 infection.

DSWD-7 Assistant Regional Director for Administration Antonio R. Dolaota, in a statement, said that its office has formed a task force composed of administrative division heads including the Human Resource Division who laid out some strategic plans to ensure the safety of its employees while providing service to the public.

This includes the installation of COVID-19 infographics in order to spread awareness about the safety measures to cut the spread of the virus.

At the onset of the declaration of Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) in Central Visayas, the DSWD-7 has provided for free some Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to its employees.

To date, about 779 washable face masks, 5,717 surgical masks, 361 face shields, and 1,259 surgical gloves have already been distributed.

About 48 thermal scanners were also procured and distributed to the different offices, including centers and institutions, to check employees’ body temperature everytime they come in and out of the office.

The statement added that the interior and exterior of the building is disinfected every 14 days. The General Service Division also disinfects daily the office vehicles, open surfaces, hand rails, including the exterior part of the office.

Foot baths were also placed in the hallway and entrance door, while a total of 431 bottles of alcohol in different sizes were already distributed per division so the staff can sanitize their hands frequently.

To boost employees’ immune system while performing their responsibilities, they have procured and distributed 1,080 pieces of Vitamin C supplements (Sodium Ascorbate) to the staff.

The Human Resource Division, through the Social Welfare Section, has also initiated a psychosocial intervention, particularly stress debriefing, to help its staff cope with stress at work, especially to those who have experienced threat, harassment and other security concerns while doing their jobs both in the office and in the field.  GAN (FREEMAN)