RDC-X Social Dev Committee pushes health interventions and advocacies

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, Oct 7 – The Northern Mindanao Regional Development Council – Social Development Committee (SDC-X) devoted its meeting to targeting programs, projects and activities that would combat and address the rising threat of the COVID-19 disease to the region during its quarterly meeting on 01 October 2020 via video conferencing.

As of 30 September 2020, a total of 2,828 cases were recorded in the region. “Our cases are already localized cases,” reported Dr. David A Mendoza of the Department of Health Center for Health Development – Northern Mindanao (DOH CHD NM). There are six regional licensed RT-PCR testing laboratories with turnaround time for results at 48 to 72 hours.

The DOH CHD-NM presented the proposed establishment of Epidemiology and Surveillance Units at local levels in the region, as well as expanding the testing for COVID-19 as means to stem local transmission of the virus in the region. The department seeks to scale-up testing to cover front-liners and those involved in economic activities.

“We want to support the economy while keeping the people safe. Right now, we are only testing those who are symptomatic. What we are advocating for is that each local government unit establish its own RT-PCR laboratory. DOH CHD-NM is committing to augment logistics,” shared Dr. Ian Christian A. Gonzales, DOH CHD-NM Infectious Disease Cluster Head.

The DOH CHD-NM laid out several health advocacies and activities that were lauded and supported by the body.

These include institutionalizing occupational health and safety systems in both the public and private sectors;  the “Kamusta Ka” Hotline Initiative for replication in local and regional government offices, providing the necessary mental health and psychosocial support for their clients; assigning of a point person in offices who shall take the lead in infection prevention and control under the DOH BIDA Solusyon/BIDA Bastonero Campaign, the Breastfeeding-Seat Initiative  requiring all bus operators to designate a breastfeeding seat in all buses inter and intra-region, and ensuring the wide implementation of the 2020 Measles Rubella and Oral Polio Vaccine Supplemental Immunization Activity and the Human Papillomavirus Vaccination amid the pandemic.

Moreover, Regional Director Arturo B. Bayocot, CESO III of the Department of Education-Regional Office X (DepEd-X) apprised the body on the agency’s preparations for the 05 October 2020 resumption of classes. “We are implementing Sulong EduKalidad, where we have prepped the school premises with the necessary sanitation facilities and have readied psychological first aid for our learners and teachers,” announced Director Bayocot.

The DepEd-X has received the commitment and support of 39 radio stations and 17 TV/cable service providers for the Radio-Based and TV-Based instruction modes. The SDC-X moved to support the establishment of safe and child-friendly home-based learning environment for basic education learners in Northern Mindanao.

Other items that were endorsed include the pre-feasibility study of the proposed Metro Cagayan de Oro Transit-Oriented Development Housing Project as one of the business case studies of the  Master Plan for the Sustainable Urban Infrastructure Development in Metropolitan Cagayan de Oro, and the proposed acquisition of a High-Performance Computing System for the Premier Research Institute of Science and Mathematics at the Mindanao State University–Iligan Institute of Technology. (Kathleen Emilie A. Navarra/NEDA10)

source https://pia.gov.ph/news/articles/1055397