Tacloban mayor presses DOH to improve system to prevent health workers from getting COVID-19

TACLOBAN CITY –– The mayor of this city has called on the Department of Health (DOH) to improve its system to ensure that no more health workers will contract the coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

Mayor Alfred Romualdez said based on a report he received from contact tracers, many health workers infected their loved ones and those they interacted with.

As of Monday, at least 27 health workers from Tacloban were infected with the dreaded virus.

“We have to address this immediately, once and for all,” Romualdez said in a press conference on Monday.

“It’s not a blame game but there is something wrong in the system and we, the local government, are here to help. We have to be transparent and coordinate with medical practitioners so we can help,” he added.

Romualdez said he wanted Tacloban to be free from COVID-19 and this would not be accomplished if health workers continued to acquire and spread the virus.

Tacloban has 420 COVID-19 cases where 316 were active.

Dr. Gloria Fabrigas, city health officer, said most of the 27 medical practitioners, who were infected with the virus, worked at the Eastern Visayas Regional Medical Center, which is under DOH management.

LZB