Press Release/February 14, 2020
The Rapid Response Team (RRT) of the Department of Health (DOH) - CALABARZON (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, Quezon) composed of Emerging and Re-emerging Infectious Disease Program (EREID), Health Emergency Management Service (HEMS), Health Education and Promotion Unit (HEPU) and the Regional Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit (RESU) continuous to conduct health education and information dissemination on the Corona Virus Disease 19 (COVID 19) to health workers in various provinces of the region.
“We have to educate and properly inform our health workers on what the disease is all about, its signs and symptoms, how to prevent its transmission, its treatment and what to do in case a patient is identified in their area. These are very important as not to cause panic and hysteria,” Regional Director Eduardo C. Janairo stated during a dialogue with private hospitals for the COVID 19 held in Quezon City on February 11, 2020.
“Ang kailangan ngayn ay mabilis, maasahan at wastong impormasyon para agad makakilos ang ating mga kababayan upang maprotektahan ang kanilang kalusugan. Importante na making lamang sa mga balita at official information mula sa DOH at huwag nang ikalat ang mga fake news na lumalabas at nababasa sa social media upang hindi magkaroon ng misinformation at magkagulo,” he said.
He added that only the DOH is the only primary and credible source of information regarding COVID 19.
Since the announcement of the Chines health authorities on the COVID 19 last January, it has caused panic to the public including massive spread of fake news on various social media platforms and the wearing and shortage of masks due to fear of the virus.
Janairo stressed that the DOH does not encourage the wearing of the masks. “Unless you are a health worker handling a patient na may ubo at pneumonia or directly handling a COVID 19 patient you really need to wear a mask. But if you are just in an area na malayo sa hospital or quarantine area you don’t have to wear a mask,”
“What’s worse in the wearing of the mask, it accumulates infection in your nose and mouth especially kung ang paggamit nito ay nakalabas ang ilong at nakalagay sa baba. It doesn’t matter when you’re sick or not but if you want to protect yourself, wear it properly and use the colored side out,” he reminded.
“The N95 mask naman kung gagamitin mo ng maghapon, its either mataas na ang presyon mo or wala ka ng oxygen sa katawan. Ang surgical mask naman daw ay dapat gamitin ng 2-3 hours or every day papalitan mo. Now, what is important in the use of the mask is it all depends on how you soiled it. Kung ito’y basa na at puno na ng laway mo itapon mo na. And don’t let anybody touch your mask to avoid infecting anyone.”
“Another misinformation, kapag umubo ka raw ay dapat takpan mo ang bibig, kadalasan nakikita natin na ang ginagamit ay kamay at pagkatapos makikipagkamay o hahawak sa ibang tao o makikipagbeso beso, di lalo lang maikakalat ang mikrobyo.”
“One more thing, may mga taong nagpapainject ng pneumococcal vaccine at flu vaccine for protection daw s COVID 19. These vaccines will not give you protection because they are only for influenza virus and pneumonia virus,”.
“There are so many things that we must learn and do to prevent the spread of the virus and it the proper information must start from us, “health workers”, to properly and accurately handle the information dissemination in the community. Individual and community participation is very important in stopping the virus from spreading,” he stressed.
The RRT has already provided health education and information to various provincial health officers, city and municipal health workers, public ang private hospital staffs, social workers and barangay health workers.
According to the DOH COVID-19 Philippine Cases Report as of February 13, 2020, there are 14 persons under investigation or PUIs from CALABARZON.
DOH-CALABARZON Regional Director Eduardo C. Janairo emphasizes the importance of proper knowledge and accurate information in disseminating facts abou8t COVID 19 to various city and municipal health officers, development management officers, provincial health team leaders and nurses of the region during the emergency meeting for the COVID 19 virus held at the Hive Hotel, Timog Avenue, Diliman, Quezon City on February 4, 2020
DOH-CALABARZON Regional Director Eduardo C. Janairo leads the dialogue for the COVID 19 virus with various hospital chiefs and representatives of private hospitals of the region during a meeting held at the Hive Hotel, Timog Avenue, Diliman, Quezon City on February 11, 2020
DOH-CALABARZON Regional Director Eduardo C. Janairo advocates to various social workers and medical assistance coordinators of hospitals for the proper dissemination of information on COVID 19 to prevent panic and fear in the community during a meeting held at Hotel Vivaldi, Cubao, Quezon City on February 6, 2020.
The Department of Health (DOH) - CALABARZON (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, Quezon) Rapid Response Team (RRT) composed of Health Emergency Management Service (HEMS) Coordinator Joehl Melchor P. Francisco (Top Left), Emerging and Re-emerging Infectious Disease Program Coordinator (EREID) Krintine Marie De Guzman (Top right), Health Education and Promotion Unit (HEPU) Chief Jeanette P. Atienza and the Regional Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit (RESU) Head Bobby M. Roca continuous to conduct health education and information dissemination on the Corona Virus Disease 19 (COVID 19) to health workers in various provinces of the region.
