TOBACCO giant Phillip Morris and the Jaime Ongpin Foundation Inc. donated P1.8 million worth of turbine ventilators to one of the region's Covid-19 referral hospital, Northern Mindanao Medical Center (NMMC).
The donation, which was coursed through the Provincial Government of Misamis Oriental, was turned over by Governor Yevgeny Emano to NMMC chief Dr. Jose Chan on Monday, April 6.
The donation also included 150 boxes of ethyl alcohol for NMMC's frontliners.
"Usa kini ka dakong tabang alang sa mga Misamisnon. Pasalamat kita sa Lucio Tan group nga maoy nagtunol sa ventilator ngadto sa NMMC," Emano said.
(This is a big help to Misamisnon. We thank the Lucio Tan group who donated the ventilators to NMMC.)
Department of Health (DOH)-Northern Mindanao Director Dr. Adriano Suba-an earlier called for donations of damaged ventilators to be used in hospitals to treat patients with severe acute respiratory illness and critically-ill patients under investigation (PUIs).
Suba-an said the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) has offered to repair the equipment.
Meanwhile, employees of the Provincial Capitol have dedicated their time in making face shield for the frontliners.
Through Provincial Early Childhood Care and Development Officer Maryden Ocot and Provincial Youth and Development Officer Allyn Penalosa, Capitol workers were mobilized in making do-it-yourself face shield with materials such as acetate plastic cover, double sided tape, duck tape, push pins, foams, among others.
Several youth organization in the province have started the initiative.
"Dili pa matino kon kanus-a mahuman kining krisis nga dala sa Covid-19. Samtang nagkadugay, nagkataas usab ang demand sa face mask ug uban pang personal protective equipment alang sa mga frontliners. Kini inisyatibo ni Governor Emano," the Capitol said.
(It is still uncertain when Covid-19 crisis will be over. The demand for face mask and other personal protective equipment for frontliners is increasing. This is an initiative of Governor Emano.)
"This is an answer to the call of our several health care providers or frontliners nga naay kakulangon sa improvised PPEs. So Governor Bambi nimando sa mga volunteers for possible nga makatabang. Ang pwersa sa kapitolyo probinsyal wala nagduha-duha sa pagtabang aron ma provide kining face shield. This is our way of showing them that the provincial government employees truly care, because our frontliners truly matters," Ocot said.