Medical technologists and nurses assigned in some local government units in Ilocos Norte underwent a capacity-building training today, September 24, to scale-up the province’s testing capacity as part of its COVID-19 response.
Held at the Provincial Capitol Auditorium, the training is a joint initiative of the Task Force Salun-at thru the leadership of Governor Matthew Marcos Manotoc and the Mariano Marcos Memorial Hospital and Medical Center (MMMH&MC).
According to Dr. Modesty A. Leaño, Head of the Molecular Biology laboratory in MMMH&MC, the training aims to empower the City and Municipal Health Offices in conducting the proper procedure of collecting, packaging, and transporting COVID-19 specimen.
Dr. Modesty A. Leaño
“The goal of the Task Force Salun-at and MMMH&MC is for all persons involved in contact tracing, the Locally Stranded Individuals, and the Returning Overseas Filipinos are subject to prompt, proper, and timely testing. Importante ang proper collection [ng mga swab samples] para mapadali ang pag-test sa laboratory. Kung hindi maganda ang collection, magkakaroon ng problema sa testing,” Dr. Leaño explained.
Included in the training program is the thorough filling-out of the Case Investigation Form, the technique in swabbing to get valid samples, and the proper handling and transport of a specimen to a testing facility.
Moreover, Dr. Rina Corpuz, Consultant of the Provincial Quarantine Facility Team, shared that the Provincial Government has set up specific isolation units for confirmed positive cases to further contain the transmission of the virus.
Dr. Rina Corpuz
“Now, we have two isolation facilities for our confirmed cases. Our DPWH facility can house 22 patients while the Takuat Center can accommodate 36 patients for now. Hopefully, hindi natin malagyan ng mga pasyente ang mga ito.”
At present, MMMH&MC has ramped up its testing capacity by running an average of 250 samples per day to 350.
In the latest report, COVID-19 cases in Ilocos Norte climbs to 111, with 36 active cases, 74 recoveries, and one (1) death.—Blessing Angel V. Agliam, PGIN-CMO
