Senator Dick Gordon, chairman and CEO of the Philippine Red Cross (PRC), said the Philippines will be stronger, healthwise, after the coronavirus pandemic because of the bio-molecular laboratories opened by the PRC to ensure victory over the coronavirus disease (COVID-19).
Gordon, head of the only Red Cross Society in the world which has the distinction of having its own molecular laboratory system, said the pandemic revolutionized the country’s public health system, adding that emerging and re-emerging diseases could now be tested in the PRC’s facilities.
“We are a country that is often hit by diseases.”
“After this, the Philippines will be stronger because we will have more molecular laboratories. We are a country that is often hit by diseases. Polio suki tayo, measles, dengue, cancers lahat ‘yan mate-test ngayon. Itong mga PCR (polymerase chain reaction machines) na binili ng Red Cross pati Zika, TB, leptospirosis, hepatitis lahat yan mate-test and we will become a stronger nation healthwise,” the veteran legislator said.
The PRC already opened three molecular laboratories, two in its national headquarter along EDSA and one at its former headquarters in Manila’s Port Area. Each facility is equipped with four PCR machines and is capable of running 4,000 tests a day or a total of 12,000 test for all three facilities combined.
In order to defeat COVID-19, the seasoned lawmaker is planning to set up more machines in the PRC Manila facility since Metro Manila is the epicenter, and open up more molecular laboratories in other provinces across the country.
“The ongoing pandemic also has a silver lining for a number of the country’s medical technicians.”
The senator further pointed out that the on-going pandemic also has a silver lining for a number of the country’s medical technicians because it has provided them with an opportunity to handle more advanced laboratory machines.
“Ang medtech natin hindi nakakahawak ng mga magagandang makina sa laboratory. Karamihan sa kanila, kuha ng dugo, blood pressure. Ngayon tuwang-tuwa sila dahil nakakahawak sila, naka-PPE pa sila. Talagang nagri-risk sila ng buhay nila para lang magamot ‘yung mga tao,” he stressed.