THE Philippine Red Cross (PRC) has called on health care workers (HCWs) to help monitor mild to moderate or recovering Covid-19 positive patients to be admitted to the Emergency Covid-19 Field Hospitals (EFH) it helped set up in a bid to free up wards and emergency rooms in hospitals for more critical patients.
In the past weeks, a total of 18 airconditioned tents that will serve as surge facilities have been set up at the premises of the Lung Center of the Philippines, eight of which can admit a total of 100 patients.
“Padadagdagan pa natin ng additional tents kung kakailanganin. Pero kahit na magdagdag ka ng kama, kung kulang ang doctors at nurses, talagang under siege ang ating healthcare system [We will have additional tents if needed. However, even if we add more beds, but we lack doctors and nurses, our health -care system is really under siege],” PRC Chairman Sen. Richard Gordon said as he mulled over giving proper training even to those aged 18 and are willing to volunteer in fighting Covid-19.
“I even want us to have medic volunteers. If we can train minders for one to two weeks, whatever their background is, we can test them to help in monitoring passengers while in full personal protective equipment. Even 18-year-olds can help us,” Gordon added, partly in Filipino.
Gordon said the PRC will equip the EFH with patient monitoring equipment such as pulse oximeters, mobile X-ray machines, ECG machines, and cardiac monitors.
To minimize the exposure of the healthcare workers and to ensure their welfare while stationed at the EFH, the PRC has set up a PPE donning and doffing area, portable hand washing stations at all work areas, and staff quarters with a pantry.
Gordon also enjoined the government to provide support to potential volunteers and prioritize their vaccination, so they can immediately take care of the patients.
“We’re going to win this fight if everybody helps out. That’s why it’s crucial that even while we’re adding hospital beds we are reinforcing the ranks of volunteers,” Gordon said.
He added that the humanitarian organization is also securing other areas for additional EFH deployment.
Image courtesy of File photo from Philippine Red Cross
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