MANILA, Philippines – The country’s top hospital for persons afflicted with respiratory diseases has sounded off a call for help from the public as its staff attends round the clock to an increasing number of patients with suspected symptoms of the 2019 coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic.
The Lung Center of the Philippines, one of several government hospitals providing free services to people either confirmed positive or showing signs of the symptoms of COVID-19, is “in dire need” of supplies for its frontline team of doctors, nurses, nurse aids, radiation technicians, respiratory therapists, medical technologists and pharmacists.
Members of the Lung Center of the Philippines Physicians Association (LCPPA) are seeking help because they’re worried that their frontline team will also be infected since supplies of their protective gear are dwindling.
What they need are N95 masks, gloves, protective goggles, personal protective equipment (PPE), and disinfectant (70-percent solution and liquid hand soap).
The call for donations was made despite news of private and public groups, including government agencies, extending help to hospitals.
“We are really overwhelmed by the number of people we attend to,” said one of the doctors. “If we can’t protect our frontliners, that’s a bigger problem.”
He added that the Department of Health (DOH) has designated the Lung Center as the hospital to attend to extreme cases of COVID-19.
The virus is said to attack the lungs of an infected person. Almost all COVID-19 deaths are caused by acute respiratory failure.
As of 8 p.m., the DOH has recorded 202 cases and 17 deaths from COVID-19.
Donations in cash to the Lung Center may be coursed through LCPPA treasurer Dr. Siena Gonda-Dimayacyac, BPI account 423 580 2851 or directly to the LCPPA UCPB account 20151-000516-0.
Donations of supplies may be brought to the Lung Center’s Material Management Dept. (MMD) c/o Lisa Bernardo.
Food donations may be brought to the Dietary Division c/o Sheryl Mabolo.
“Rest assured that we will be transparent by providing a detailed accounting of the donations,” the LCPPA said.