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Cotabato City (June 19, 2020)—The Bangsamoro Government’s Ministry of Health (MOH-BARMM) hired forty-two (42) health workers and maintenance personnel to man the Covid-19 isolation facility in Cotabato Sanitarium Hospital, in Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao.
BARMM’s Health Minister Dr. Saffrullah Dipatuan led the contract signing and oath taking ceremony of 27 nurses, 3 respiratory therapists, 4 maintenance personnel, and 8 security personnel on Friday, June 19, 2020 at the MOH’s Training Hall in Cotabato City.
“This move is in line with BARMM’s immediate response to Covid-19 health emergency,” Dipatuan stressed.
Dipatuan noted that the salaries of the said Human Resource for Health (HRH) personnel will come from the Department of Health-Central Office and will be sub-allotted to MOH-BARMM.
“We asked assistance from the Department of Health to recruit new Human Resources for Health because we do not have sufficient number of staff to man our isolation facility,” Dipatuan said.
On May 28, the Bangsamoro Government, through the MOH-BARMM and Ministry of Public Works, inaugurated the isolation center in Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao which was built in 40 days.
In yesterday’s press briefing, Cabinet Secretary Mohd Asnin Pendatun said that BARMM will continue supporting the operations of the isolation facility through the Office of the Chief Minister.
“Chief Minister Ahod Balawag Ebrahim has approved to provide the food supply for COVID-19 positive patients that would be admitted to the isolation facility”, he said.
Cotabato Sanitarium Hospital Chief Dr. Ibrahim V. Pangato, Jr. emphasized that the new set of health personnel have already undergone basic training on infectious control prior to deployment.
“We need teamwork to fight Covid-19, since only the Bangsamoro will help our fellow Bangsamoro,” Pangato asserted. (Bureau of Public Information)
Covid-19 cases in BARMM now at 72, BIATF prompts LGUs to tighten measures
Cotabato City (June 18,2020)—Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) now has a total of 72 confirmed Coronavirus disease (Covid-19) cases according to the region’s Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF).
BIATF spokesperson Mohd Asnin Pendatun said as of today, June 18, of these 72 cases, 56 are considered active cases, 12 have recovered and 4 died.
Pendatun noted that the six (6) latest positive cases recorded on June 17, and another one (1) on June 18, were Locally Stranded Indivisuals (LSI) and Returning Overseas Filipino Workers (ROFs) who availed the Hatid Probinsya Program of the government.
“These new cases are 3 LSI in Lanao del Sur, 3 Returning OFW in Maguindanao and just today, 1 LSI from Maguindanao was added to our list of confirmed cases,” Pendatun said during a press briefing here on Thursday.
With the rapid increase of Covid-19 cases in the BARMM, Health Minister Dr. Saffrullah Dipatuan reminds the Local Government Units (LGU) to be vigilant.
While the BARMM supports the government’s Hatid Probinsya program, Dipatuan noted that the increase of Covid-19 cases in the region is linked to the LSI and ROFs, thus, proper coordination with the LGU is necessary.
Dipatuan also affirmed that there are also people who violate community quarantines and do not abide by the travel restrictions imposed by some LGUs.
“We appeal to everyone, especially those who travel by land to pass through the protocol, you can’t just go back to your communities without coordination with the LGUs,” Dipatuan stressed.
He said the LGU must be keen on any suspicious actions done by these people and immediately report them to the police stations.
“We have to ask for the law enforcers’ assistance to protect our health workers, because we have reports of harrassments towards our front liners,” Dipatuan explained.
As of today, BARMM was able to document only 150 LSI who were brought back to their communities through a sweeper flight early this June.
Meanwhile, the BIATF said that the implementation of Modified General Community Quarantine (MGCQ) will be until the end of June.
Spokesperson Pendatun advised the community to continue following the minimum health standards such as physical distancing, wearing of face mask and using alcohol and sanitizers.
He also reiterated the regional Darul Ifta’s reminder to the community to observe the 50% capacity rule in conducting prayers in the mosques. (Bureau of Public Information)
BARMM celebrates World Blood Donor Day thru blood letting activity
Cotabato City (June 17, 2020)—In celebration of World Blood Donor Day, the Bangsamoro Government’s Ministry of Health (MOH), in partnership with the Cotabato Regional Medical Center (CRMC), conducted a mobile blood donation activity on Wednesday, June 17 at the Bangsamoro Government Center in Cotabato City.
Health Minister Dr. Saffrullah Dipatuan, who was also a blood donor during the activity, said the celebration was intended to give special appreciation to voluntary non-remunerated blood donors or those who give their blood without asking for any payment.
He further stressed that the celebration is also a way of raising awareness on the global need for safe blood and encourage more people to donate freely.
“Indeed, blood donors help save millions of lives every year,” Dr. Dipatuan noted.
“We want to establish a solidarity act which encourages every family, in a spirit of unity, collaboration and empowerment, to voluntarily donate blood and make it as a way of life,” he added.
World Blood Donor Day is celebrated annually every 14th day of June. This year’s celebration carried the theme “Dugoyanihan: Isang Pamilya, Isang Lahi, Isang Bansa.”
Wednesday’s activity was also in pursuant to Republic Act 7719 also known as National Blood Services act of 1994, “an act promoting voluntary blood donation, providing for an adequate supply of safe blood, regulating blood banks, and providing penalties for violation thereof.”
The activity was attended by MOH staff, and CRMC Blood Center Head Dr. Sherjan Kalim and his team. At least 43 bags of blood were collected from donors from the different ministries and offices of BARMM. The bags will be turned over to the blood center of CRMC. (Bureau of Public Information)
BARMM provides aid to victims of mortar shelling; justice, a primary concern
(Right) Health Minister Dr. Saffrullah Dipatuan visited and provided financial assistance to mortar shelling victims on May 26.
Cotabato City(May 31, 2020) – The Bangsamoro Government, through its Ministry of Health (MOH), has provided cash assistance to the casualties and affected families of the mortar shelling incident in Datu Saudi Ampatuan in Maguindanao.
MOH Minister Dr. Saffrullah Dipatuan on May 26, gave P50,000.00 cash to the family of the two (2) minors who died during the incident; P30,000.00 each to seven (7) of the victims who are badly injured; and P5,000.00 to each of the nine (9) individuals who sustained minor wounds.
Some of the victims are currently confined at the Cotabato Regional and Medical Center (CRMC) and Maguindanao Provincial Hospital (MPH).
The minister said this is part of the Bangsamoro Government’s vow to provide the needed assistance of the victims.
“Inutusan kami ng ating mahal na chief minister (Ahod Al Haj Murad Ebrahim) na kung ano man ang maitulong ng bawat ministry ng BARMM ay dapat naming gawin. Kaya ngayon ay nagtutulungan kami,” Dipatuan said.
[Our beloved Chief Minister Ahod Al Haj Murad Ebrahim has directed each of the ministries of BARMM to do whatever it can to help. So now we are working together.]
The hospitalization of the patients will also be covered by the Bangsamoro Government’s project AMBAG (Ayudang Medikal Mula sa Bangsamoro Government), as Chief Minister Ebrahim wants the patients to be free from their medical expenses.
Dipatuan said some of the patients need to undergo orthopedic surgery due to severe injury.
He also said, “kasama rin natin ang ating mga religious leaders para dun sa spritual counseling na kailangan maibigay sa mga biktima.”
[Our religious leaders will also conduct spiritual counseling that needs to be provided to the victims.]
According to BARMM Chief Minister Ahod Balawag Ebrahim, extending assistance is not the main solution. He said that “the provision of assistance to the victims is just part of our efforts. Our primary concern is to ensure that justice is given to all the victims, especially the mother who lost her 2 daughters and that this will not be repeated. That is why our immediate response after the tragic incident was to demand an impartial investigation.”
Early on, the Bangsamoro Government, with the help of the authorities, has started the conduct of investigation in pursuit of justice for the victims.
On May 30, over 600 relief packs were distributed to the affected families through the Bangsamoro Government’s Project Tabang (Tulong Alay sa Bangsamorong Nangangailangan).
Moreover, the BARMM’s Ministry of Social Services and Development (MSSD) has conducted psycho-social activities for affected children and families from Barangay Kitango to help them ease their fear and to relieve their anxiety and stress.
MSSD also provided cash assistance to the family of the two minors who were killed , and to the 15 others who were injured. The ministry also distributed food packs to the 1,573 families or 7,865 individuals who were forced to flee their homes from barangays Dapiawan, Elian, and Kitango.
