MANILA, Philippines — Vice President Leni Robredo on Friday called for more medical and non-medical volunteers for the Bayanihan E-Konsulta program of the Office of the Vice President (OVP) amid the recent spike in COVID-19 cases in the country.
“Inaasahan natin na dadagsa ulit ‘yung mga mangangailangan ng tulong sa e-Konsulta, kaya I want to take this opportunity na manawagan ulit for volunteers. Noong huling surge sa Metro Manila, nagawa natin ito: 1,078 na doktor at 3,156 non-medical volunteers ang tumugon sa panawagan natin noon. Ganitong klaseng effort ulit ang kakailanganin natin sa harap ng surge na ito,” Robredo said in a video statement.
(We expect that more people will need to avail of the services of e-Konsulta, so I want to take this opportunity to call for volunteers. During the last surge in Metro Manila, we had 1,078 doctors and 3,156 non-medical volunteers who served those who availed of the program. This is the kind of effort we need again amid this current surge.)
[A] WATCH: VP Leni Robredo on the recent surge of COVID-19 cases, access to molnupiravir through the OVP’s Bayanihan E-Konsulta, and call for doctor and non-doctor volunteers for the program pic.twitter.com/3QN6Fjpya6
— Leni Robredo (@lenirobredo) January 7, 2022
“Kakailanganin natin ng medical at non-medical volunteers, kasama rin ang licensed mental health professionals. Nasa Facebook page natin ‘yung mga detalye for signing up. Kailangan ng kapwa Pilipino natin ‘yung tulong natin,” she added.
(We need medical and non-medical volunteers, as well as licensed mental health professionals. Details to sign-up are available on our Facebook page. Our fellow Filipinos need our help.)
Bayanihan E-Konsulta is a teleconsultation program launched by Robredo and the OVP in April last year to help address the surge in COVID-19 cases.
Robredo likewise informed the public that the program continues to make available Molnupiravir to patients who are prescribed to take it. Molnupiravir is an anti-viral drug used in treating mild to moderate COVID-19.
(Photo by Jay Ganzon / OVP)
“Mag-message lang kayo sa e-Konsulta; kung kailangan, i-re-rekomenda kayo ng volunteer doctors natin para sa gamot na ito. Libre nyong makukuha ito at ipapadala ang gamot sa inyo,” she said.
(Just send a message to e-Konsulta if you are in need or if our volunteer doctors will recommend this medicine. You will get it for free and we will deliver it to you.)
Further, Robredo also reminded that her office’s Swab Cab program is already “up and running.”
Earlier this week, 46 percent of the people who availed of her office’s free COVID-19 test were found positive for the virus during the resumption of their Swab Cab project at Tandang Sora, Quezon City.
The Department of Health on Thursday reported 17,220 additional COVID-19 cases.