Barangay HealthCare Facilities pressed

BAGUIO CITY – (June 10, 2021) – Councilor Michael Lawana in a council resolution has urged the barangays in the city to put up their respective special care facilities and isolation units that will house asymptomatic patients and patients with mild symptoms.

Lawana observed that the majority of the 128 barangays in the city have not yet identified their respective healthcare facilities which are supposed to decongest the hospitals in the city that are now overwhelmed with COVID-19 cases.

Meanwhile, those barangays with identified health care facilities and isolation units are encouraged to furbish them.

Under the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Memorandum Circular No. 2020-064, the barangays of the local government units are enjoined to immediately identify, designate and establish their respective COVID-19 special care facilities with the following requirements:

These special care facilities must be enclosed but well-ventilated structures, with walls, windows and doors (negative pressure is not necessary);

These can be empty houses or buildings, equipped with appropriate furniture and beds, with sufficient provisions for electricity and running water, kitchen, toilets and baths;

It should be able to accommodate as many individuals as possible, without crowding;

Every person must be kept isolated from the others within the building and may be approached only by health care workers donning the required personal protective equipment (PPE). Thus, it is necessary to have one person per bedroom, otherwise, each bed must be two (2) meters or more away and separated by vinyl curtains that should be decontaminated with the 0.1% sodium hypochlorite solution or 62.71% ethanol at least once a day, and air-dried;

Every person should be provided with their own bed, pillow and blanket; and

The special care facility and isolation units should, as much as possible, be situated some distance away from populated areas, but easily accessible to health care workers and other health authorities who shall monitor the status of those who shall be placed in it.

The ABC president mentioned that the City Health Services Office has provided an assessment tool for barangay isolation units to be established and observed by the barangays indicating the required location, physical plan, personnel, patient management, infection prevention and control, transport, and medicines and supplies.

Pursuant to DILG and Department of Budget and Management (DBM) Joint Memorandum Circular No. 1, a local government unit may utilize its appropriate funds, including the 20% Development Fund of the barangays and its respective quick response fund of the Local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Fund. –Jordan G. Habbiling