THE city government of Mabalacat is set to implement a new approach to Covid-19 prevention, management and treatment.
Mabalacat City Mayor Crisostomo Garbo said a new program will be implemented, giving more push on four aspects: prevention, tracing, isolation and reintegration.
Dubbed as the "Covid-19 Response Integrated System," the program also calls for the establishment of rooms for isolation and quarantine of patients with mild symptoms. These will be located at the city hall annex of the Mabalacat City local government unit.
“This is a program that is parallel to what is being implemented by higher authorities like the Department of Health and it is also in conjunction with the program of the Provincial Government,” Garbo said.
Garbo said under the prevention aspect of the program, vaccines, aside from those coming from national and provincial levels, will be procured by the city government. It will also seek more testing kits to check against the spread of the virus.
“Ito po lahat ay bilang karagdagan pa sa kasalukuyang programa ng pamahalaan na kung saan ay pinag-iibayo pa ng siyudad ang kampanya para sa kapakanan ng mga Mabalaqueno,” Garbo said.
Garbo also said the program will have telemedicine and tele-consult with its Home Care Package (HCP) feature under the isolation aspect, where doctors will be consulted and patients checked online or via the internet.
The HCP, including operation of isolation, infirmary and quarantine facilities, will be directly supervised by renowned neurosurgeon and Covid-19 operation specialist Dr. Jay Rivera, who was recently tapped by the city government.
Rivera said telemedicine would be critical in monitoring patients while keeping doctors safe. He cited, in particular, the use of portable X-rays, where results are sent electronically for reading and impressions via messaging platforms.
The city government has earmarked funding for the operation of new isolation, infirmary and quarantine facilities, including the procurement of necessary medical equipment such as beds, X-ray machines, oxygen monitors, medicines and other medical apparatus and supplies.