So. Leyte requests accreditation of SOYMPH as COVID testing center

MAASIN CITY, April 2 (PIA)  —  The local legislative board in the province has passed a resolution requesting the health department to accredit the Salvacion Oppus Yniguez Memorial Provincial Hospital (SOYMPH)“ as sub-national COVID testing center” equipped with enough testing kits.

The main purpose was to conduct coronavirus test “to presumptively infected persons under monitoring (PUM) and persons under investigation (PUIs) patients not only in the province of Southern Leyte but also to the adjoining municipalities of the province of Leyte” that are very far from Tacloban.

“Early detection of the virus is appropriate in order that corresponding medical or mitigating measures shall be adopted for those who are found positive,” Sangguniang Panlalawigan resolution number 244, which was discussed and issued during the March 23 regular session, pointed out.

Copies of the resolution, primarily addressed to Health Secretary Francisco Duque, III, were furnished to Cong. Roger Mercado, and Senators Emmanuel Pacquiao, Francis Tolentino, and Ronald De La Rosa.

The initiative of the provincial legislative body propped up during a media forum Tuesday attended by Gov. Damian Mercado along with heads of agencies such as DILG, provincial health, disaster office, and lawyer Teopisto Rojas representing the provincial board.

On the question of when the province could possibly have testing kits, Atty. Rojas, board member, disclosed that the SP already passed a resolution that was earlier mentioned, citing the need for massive testing nowadays.

For now the only laboratory for the Visayas regions to determine results is the Vicente Sotto Medical Center in Cebu.

For his part, Gov. Damian Mercado said he was aware testing kits need matching machines to read samples taken from patients, whether negative or positive results, and if such kind of machine is available the province would certainly procure one.

“Definitely, if there is a machine certified by the DOH (that can read swab specimen accurately), the provincial government is willing to purchase so we can make our own tests here,” Gov. Mercado declared.  (mmp/PIA8-Southern Leyte)

source https://pia.gov.ph/news/articles/1037882