THE Zonta Club of Cebu 1 donated 12 personal protective equipment (PPE) and 500 washable masks to the Bayanihan Cebu IEC Field Center in Barangay Mabolo, Cebu City on July 15, 2020.

Zontians Dr. Jenny Rosello, Zeny Uy and Be Smith delivered the items to the facility.

The Bayanihan Cebu IEC Field Center is a 130-bed facility for persons found positive for the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) with no symptoms of the respiratory disease and mild symptoms.

The facility is managed by the Department of Health 7. The enclosed facility contains fully air-conditioned negative air pressure shelter bays, five of which are equipped with medical-grade HEPA filters that clean outgoing air. This ensures the utmost safety of the patients, frontliners and staff, as well as neighboring communities.

Select Cebu businesspersons and medical alumni associations also contributed in constructing the isolation facility.

The patients who recover are then sent home. Each of them will receive washable masks from Zonta Club of Cebu 1.

The patients who need more medical help are sent to hospitals. It was Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma who volunteered the IEC Convention Center to be used as an isolation facility.

Sewing project

The PPE and washable masks were sewn by the Budlaan Community Sewing Project, according to Uy, head of Zonta 1’s livelihood committee.

Zonta Club of Cebu 1 has been supporting the Budlaan Community Sewing Project since 2004 in collaboration with Budlaan Barangay Captain Nerissa Antolijao. The group has 15 participants, who had various projects like sewing school uniforms, helper and driver’s uniforms, quilted blankets, veterinary clothing and pet clothes.

Last April, responding to the needs created by Covid-19, Zonta Club of Cebu 1 commissioned the Budlaan Community Sewing Project participants to make hand-sewn washable masks and personal protective garments.

The sewing community in Budlaan continues to sew personal protective gear and washable masks on project basis for various clubs and medical groups. They can be contacted via Zontian Zeny Uy through her cell number 09176262011 or email address zeny1212@yahoo.com.