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Monday, May 12, 2003
Church backs City Hall in NMMC stance
By Rubelyn Yap
THE Cagayan de Oro Archdiocese has supported City Hall's opposition to have the Northern Mindanao Medical Center (NMMC) become the "referral center" for persons suspected of being infected with Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (Sars) in Region 10.
Archbishop Jesus Tuquib Jr. reiterated the archdiocese's support even as health and government officials will appear in Monday's City Council session to shed light on measures being undertaken to prevent the incidence of Sars i
in the city.
In a pastoral letter, Tuquib said the government should look into whether the NMMC is the right place for isolating suspected Sars victims.
"We hope that the isolation area will be far that it would not affect everyone living nearby," the letter stated.
Among the officials scheduled to attend this afternoon's regular session are Regional Director Marietta Fuentes of the Department of Health-Region 10 (DOH) 10, Dr. Evelyn Clarete of NMMC; Dr. Logencito Oran of Bureau of Qurantine, district collector Lourdes Mangaoang of Bureau of Customs, area manager Antonio Alfonso of Air Transportation Office; Alien Control Officer Acur Macagaan of Bureau of Immigration and Deportation and Port District Manager Ernesto Fernando of Philippine Port Authority.
Legal measures
The City Government earlier condemned the DOH recommendation during a recent Sars summit in Manila to designate the NMMC as a referral center for suspected Sars victims in Region 10.
The council passed a resolution supporting Mayor Vicente Emano's position with the mayor threatenin to lead rallies and even pursue legal actions should the DOH allow the entry of Sars patients to the NMMC for quarantine and treatment.
The mayor said the plan won't only pose health risks to the city residents but also adversely affect the business and tourism prospects in Cagayan de Oro.
Councilor Mary Anne Enteria was tasked to find legal measures aimed at ensuring that the NMMC won't be used as a Sars isolation center in the region.
Enteria said they are ready to file a case for this purpose and is only waiting for the mayor's go signal.
Earlier, Councilor Ian Mark Nacaya called for a local SARS summit to fully inform the public about the disease. Nacaya is president of the Association of Barangay Captains (ABC)
For his part, Tuquib said the public can stop and prevent the incidence of Sars if they all work together.
Comforter
He cited eight ways to avoid contracting Sars in the churches.
These include prayer, avoiding any kissing and touching the statues of saints, avoid any hugging and kissing when making the sign of peace; use the hands not the tongue to receive communion; lay ministers administering ommunion must wash their hands with alcohol; during confessions surgical masks are needed; and personal hygiene like washing hands and maintaining a healthy body should be observed.
Tuquib also said the church being the comforter of the afflicted should urge people to examine what God wants to tell them about the disease in relation to their relations with Him.
Meanwhile, Emil Rana, assistant city director of Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) said preparations have been undertaken to deal with suspected Sars patients.
These include the recent cleanup campaign in the city and the installation of a barangay monitoring system, among others.
(May 12, 2003 issue)
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