THE National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) has put up station health units (SHUs) in all of its police districts to prevent further transmission of coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) among its personnel.
NCRPO Director Debold Sinas said 44 SHUs with 325 personnel were set up in various areas covered by the Manila Police District (MPD), Quezon City Police District (QCPD), Northern Police District (NPD), Southern Police District (SPD), and Eastern Police District (EPD).
He said the SHUs would be primarily responsible for monitoring the health status of police officers within its area of responsibility and assisting personnel due for physical fitness tests, annual physical examination, medical evaluation, and other personnel medical requirements.
These units will also provide tactical medical support during station operations.
“This initiative aims to ensure and guarantee the health and safety of NCRPO's frontline force in the battle against the Covid-19 virus and other emergency health situations,” Sinas said in a statement.
"I am impressed by the immediate adherence of all police districts to my call for the creation of a station health unit in their respective areas of responsibility. This endeavor will surely benefit our police officers who are doing their best in maintaining peace and order in the community while also fighting the unseen enemy,” he added.
The NCRPO has also established an Emergency Treatment Facility inside Camp Bagong Diwa Bicutan, Taguig City, which caters to NCRPO’s Covid-19 patients with mild to severe symptoms.
As of September 23, 5,531 policemen have tested positive for Sars-CoV-2, the virus that causes Covid-19.
Of the total, 1,323 were active cases, 17 had died and 4,191 have recovered.
The PNP Health Center said majority of the policemen who contracted the virus were assigned at the NCRPO.
Meanwhile, Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Camilo Pancratius Cascolan said all police personnel who rendered duty in areas under enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) and modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ) from June 2020 onwards are entitled to receive the standard hazard pay of P500 per day.
Cascolan said the granting of hazard pay is also in accordance with Administrative Order No. 26 dated March 23, 2020 for the provision of Covid-19 hazard pay to government personnel who physically reported for work during ECQ.
Brigadier General Rolando Hinanay, Directorate for Personnel and Records Management acting director, issued a directive last September 15 instructing PNP units and offices to signify and submit their hazard pay claims.
Aside from the hazard pay, the PNP also distributed protective gear and disinfectants as well as set up laboratories for the coronavirus testing of its personnel.
Cascolan said the PNP will continue to strengthen its safety measures to combat the increasing number of infections among police personnel. (Third Anne Peralta-Malonzo/SunStar Philippines)