Ni Liezelle Soriano

NANGANGALAP na ng mga karagdagang impormasyon ang Department of Health (DOH) sa napaulat na pagtaas ng kaso ng respiratory illness sa mga batang mag-aaral sa Beijing, China.

Ayon kay DOH Secretary Teodoro Herbosa, ang cold snap ay maaaring maging sanhi ng pagtaas ng kaso ng lrespiratory illnesses sa Beijing at kasalukuyan nang minomonitor ng ahensiya ang bagong health issue.

“We are monitoring that because the World Health Organization is monitoring this respiratory illness out of Cina. Babantayan din natin ‘yan. Like any outbreak or clustering — ang tawag diyan clustering may similar cases in one location — so that might be the start of something or it might not be. Puwedeng common colds or flu lang ‘yan. But we are watching it,” ani Herbosa.

“I just hope it’s just a regular flu and not a new, emerging infectious disease (like Covid). They will diagnose that eventually,” dagdag pa niya.

Sinabi pa ng DOH na sa pamamagitan ng kanilang Epidemiology Bureau ay nakipag-ugnayan na sila sa International Health Regulations (IHR) National Focal Point ng China para humingi ng karagdagang impormasyon tungkol sa isyu.

Ayon sa DOH, sa Pilipinas, iniuulat sa Epidemiology Bureau ang mga hinihinalang kaso ng mala-influenza na sakit para sa patuloy na pagbabantay.

“Currently, ILI cases are still on an uptrend but at a slower pace. To prevent further case increases, the Department encourages the public to practice these preventive measures: observe cough etiquette; masking, as appropriate; get vaccinated; ensure to stay home or isolate if ill; and seek early consultation, when needed,” pagbibigay-diin pa ni Herbosa.

ISANG kilos-protesta ang isinagawa ng Alliance of Health Workers sa harap ng tanggapan ng Department of Health (DOH) sa Avenida Avenue, Sta. Cruz, Manila nitong Lunes, November 13, 2023.

Iba’t ibang grupo ng health workers ang sama-sama na nagsagawa ng demonstrasyon na pinangunahan ng AHW upang ipanawagan ang kanilang mga hinaing sa administrasyong Marcos, kabilang ang hindi pagbibigay ng kanilang Health Emergency Allowance (HEA) noong kasagsagan ng pandemya.

Makikita sa larawan at video ang mga nagpoprotestang grupo ng health workers at dala ang malalaking banners na nagsasaad ng kanilang mga kahilingan sa gobyerno.

(Benjamin Cuaresma/ai/mnm)

By Liezelle Soriano

THE Department of Health and the Commission on Higher Education signed an agreement on the upskilling of clinical care associates.

Under the partnership agreement, 55 hospitals and 19 nursing schools will collaborate to implement the Clinical Care Associates Upskilling Program.

The program hopes to address the shortage of nurses.

Health Undersecretary Kenneth Ronquillo signed the Memorandum of Understanding in behalf of the DOH.

President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr., Commission on Higher Education Commissioner Prospero de Vera III and representatives from the private sector witnessed the signing of the memorandum.

“Through this program, the DOH, in collaboration with CHED and private partners, aims to address the shortage of nurses in the country, aligned with one of the Department’s 8-Point Action Agenda,” the department said.