THE Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (Barmm) on Monday, July 6, 2020, turned over P15 million cash assistance to the Amai Pakpak Medical Center (APMC) in Marawi City, Lanao del Sur.

Barmm Chief Minister Ahod Ebrahim said the P15 million assistance will be utilized for the establishment of a biomolecular laboratory to be able to test for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-COV-2) that is compliant to Department of Health (DOH) standards.

Ebrahim and Dr. Shalimar Sani-Rakiin, APMC chief, signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) to collaborate and cooperate in battling the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic.

“It is a mutual policy of the parties [APMC and Barmm] to ensure the delivery of excellent health services to the people and to promote the quality of health and care to the locality served by the Parties,” the MOA stated.

The APMC shall receive and process specimens for testing from Barmm, whether Covid-19-related or not, which shall follow the DOH guidelines in laboratory testing of patients, even beyond the Covid-19 pandemic.

“This signing of MOA is another manifestation of our shared commitment with APMC in fighting Covid-19. We are confident that our dear friends and counterparts from APMC can help us in this continuing battle,” Ebrahim said.

Ebrahim is also optimistic that the contribution they gave to the APMC will help in providing great leap for Covid-19 response in the province of Lanao del Sur.

Rakiin said the Barmm’s assistance is a great help to APMC and Lanao del Sur.

“We can assure that this can save so many lives and once the biomolecular laboratory is done it will help us more to contain the pandemic,” she said. (SunStar Zamboanga)