AFP medical team now in Bacolod to help stem COVID-19 surge

BACOLOD CITY—At least 12 doctors, nurses, and health aides from the Armed Forces of the Philippines’ (AFP) Central Command (Centcom) arrived in this provincial capital of Negros Occidental on Friday (Aug. 29) to help overwhelmed medical workers.

They will be assigned to the Riverside Medical Center and Bacolod Queen of Mercy Hospital.

At least 10,000 test kits, 2,000 personal protective equipment, and 400 remdesivir antiviral medicines were also sent to Bacolod, said Mayor Evelio Leonardia.

“The Office of the President stays true to its promise to assist Bacolod City amid the worsening COVID-19 health crisis,” he said.

President Rodrigo Duterte recently sent Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu to Bacolod to help the city bring down its number of infections.

As of Thursday (Aug. 27), Bacolod has a total of 884 COVID-19 cases.

Cimatu said the number of cases in Bacolod can easily be brought down with the cooperation of the people.

“We are here to help Bacolod, help the people because (the) mayor sent a letter to the President asking for assistance, manpower, and other equipment, including how to stop the rising cases in Bacolod,” he said.

Cimatu said his team will use the same formula it used in Cebu City which also saw a surge in COVID-19 cases in June.

Leonardia said the city government will cooperate with Cimatu’s team and do everything to control the spread of the virus.

TSB