THE Ministry of Health in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (MOH-Barmm) has hired 42 health workers and maintenance personnel to man the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) isolation facility at the Cotabato Sanitarium Hospital in Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao.
Dr. Saffrullah Dipatuan, Barmm health minister, led on Friday, June 19, the contract signing and oath taking ceremony of 27 nurses, three respiratory therapists, four maintenance personnel, and eight security personnel held at the MOH's Training Hall in Cotabato City.
Dipatuan said the hiring of personnel is in line with Barmm's immediate response to Covid-19 health emergency.
Dipatuan noted that the salaries of the said Human Resource for Health (HRH) personnel will come from the Department of Health-Central Office and will be sub-allotted to MOH-Barmm.
"We asked assistance from the Department of Health to recruit new Human Resources for Health because we do not have sufficient number of staff to man our isolation facility," Dipatuan said.
The Barmm, through the Ministries of Health and Public Works, inaugurated on May 28 the isolation center in Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao that was built in 40 days.
Meanwhile, Barmm Cabinet Secretary Mohd Asnin Pendatun said the regional government will continue to support the operations of the isolation facility through the Office of the Chief Minister.
Pendatun said that Barmm Chief Minister Ahod Balawag Ebrahim has approved to provide the food supply for Covid-19 positive patients that would be admitted to the isolation facility.
Dr. Ibrahim Pangato Jr., of the Cotabato Sanitarium Hospital, said the new set of health personnel have already undergone basic training on infectious control prior to deployment. (SunStar Zamboanga)