Hontiveros urges DOH to step up drive vs coronavirus

February 4, 2020

In light of the Philippines having the first 2019 Novel Coronavirus death outside of China, Senator Risa Hontiveros stressed that the Department of Health (DOH) should be prepared for the worst case scenario. 

“Are we prepared? We don’t want our countrymen and women to panic. But we have to assure them and answer the most fundamental question: are we prepared for the worst?” Hontiveros asked during a hearing in the Senate on Tuesday. 

Hontiveros also urged the DOH to implement a stronger community health surveillance system.

“My worry is there may be many of these cases like the first confirmed case. They go anywhere and the contact points increase,” Hontiveros remarked.

The first nCoV case in the country also reportedly traveled to Cebu and Dumaguete before she was diagnosed in Manila.

“Do we know how many entered the country Alam ba natin kung ilan na ang nakapasok sa bansa bago ang ating travel ban?” Hontiveros furthered. 

The Senator urged the DOH to advise travelers from China who arrived in the Philippines in the past three weeks to report to local health authorities. 

”Alamin natin kung ilan at nasaan na itong mga nakapasok bago ang lock down at travel ban, lalo na yung mga galing sa Tsina in the past 2-3 weeks, magkaroon ng mandatory reporting, i- monitor ang kanilang kalagayan at mabigyan ng angkop at sapat na healthcare interventions,” she detailed. 

“The Department of Health DOH needs to step up. Hindi mo masisisi ang ilan nating kababayang mag-alala kung hindi naman ka-level ng Japan ang healthcare system mo,” she remarked. “We need to assure the public that we are prepared,” Hontiveros concluded. DMS