CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY (PIA)–More hospitals in Mindanao received donations from private donors as the Office of Senator Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go helped facilitate their turnover to medical frontliners, personnel and staff of Northern Mindanao Medical Center (NMMC) in Cagayan de Oro City on Saturday, May 16.
“Patuloy nating tutulungan ang mga hospitals at ang kanilang medical frontliners and staff sa kanilang araw-araw na laban para masugpo ang COVID-19,” Go said pertaining to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak that continues to threaten the lives of many Filipinos all over the country.
“Nagpapasalamat ako sa lahat ng private donors na hindi tumitigil ipakita sa sambayanang Pilipino na buhay ang bayanihan at pakikipagtulungan natin sa ating kapwa Pilipino,” the senator added.
NMMC chief Dr. Jose Chan received private donations during the turnover activity. He then thanked the private donors who gave hundreds of sacks of rice, face masks and thermal scanners.
“On behalf of NMMC at mga empleyado, nagpasalamat kami sa private donors na nagbigay ng mga bigas, face masks at thermal guns para gamitin ng mga frontliners na nag-aasikaso sa mga pasyente dito sa NMMC ngayong merong krisis dulot ng COVID-19,” Chan said in Cebuano.
Chan also expressed his gratitude to the senator’s office for coordinating the turnover for the benefit of the hospital’s medical frontliners, including nurses, medical technologists and radiologic technologists, health emergency management staff, housekeeping personnel and staff at the Malasakit Center.
“Salamat sa mga private donors again through the office of Senator Bong Go na nag-facilitate ng mga tulong na ito ngayong araw,” the medical chief added.
The medical facility located in Northern Mindanao is the region’s largest public tertiary hospital.
It is also the referral hospital for all COVID-19 patients in the region after being accredited by the Department of Health and Research Institute for Tropical Medicine.
Recently, RITM gave the green light to the facility to start testing their medical laboratory for COVID-19. NMMC’s laboratory can operate for twelve hours a day with two medical equipment available to process COVID-19 tests.
Amid shortage of essential protective equipment and supplies, Go’s Senate office continues to be a conduit for private donations by fielding its staff to facilitate the delivery and turnover of donated items.
“Ang mga donasyon na ito ay mula sa mga kaibigan at kapwa nating Pilipino na idinaan ang tulong nila sa opisina namin.
Kami naman po, nagsisilbi lamang kaming tulay para makarating ang tulong ng mga gustong mag-donate patungo sa mga nangangailangan,” Go said.
“Ako rin, bilang isang Mindanawan, gusto ko rin mabigyan ng tulong ang mga taong patuloy na sinasakripisyo ang kanilang buhay para masalba ang mga pasyente mula sa COVID-19.
Sinisikap nating mag-abot ng tulong bilang pagkilala rin sa sakripisyo nila alang-alang sa buhay ng mga Pilipino,” the senator added.
The senator’s office has delivered similar donations to Dr. Jorge P. Royeca Hospital (DJPRH) in General Santos City last May 15.
They also turned over donations of sacks of rice and ventilators to Southern Philippines Medical Center and Davao Regional Medical Center in Davao City and Tagum City, respectively, a few weeks ago.
“Tulong-tulong tayong labanan ang COVID-19 at bigyan pa natin ng dagdag na suporta ang mga frontliners at ospital na patuloy ring sinisigurado na ligtas ang sambayanan mula sa virus na ito,” the senator added.
