A meeting with the municipal health officer (MHO) of San Remegio, Dr. Orleta B. Ursal was held on September 4, 2020 at 8 a.m. in the rural health unit. Visayas Primary Healthcare Services, Inc (VPHCS) staff Irish Grace Ramirez, Crescenciana Labitad and Edgar Gahisan represented the project team. The project was to discuss about the setting up of temporary treatment and monitoring facilities and installation of handwashing facilities in San Remigio.
Dr. Ursal said that the TTMF of San Remegio is located in Barangay Tambungon. It is a site of housing units of the National Housing Authority (NHA).
The TTMF has five rooms, with two persons occupying each room if they are from the same household, for a maximum of 10 persons. It started its operation in June 30, 2020.
It has complied with the minimum infrastructure requirements for TTMF in Department of Health (DOH) memoranda, and installed all necessary facilities and rooms. Dr. Ursal said that they need to have a laryngoscope needed for endotracheal intubation of patients. The RHU is preparing for the accreditation of the TTMF with the DOH, so that with the latter’s accreditation, it can then process for the accreditation by the PhilHealth. With accreditation by the Philhealth, the LGU can receive Philhealth benefits for Philhealth members who are admitted there for quarantine.
The RHU has also proposed another TTMF, a container van, similar to the one used for storage in the sea ports. It has a capacity of 20 persons. This project is in partnership with the Department of Public Works and Highways. It will be placed in Barangay Poblacion. At present, the area is being paved with anapog. A memorandum of agreement has already been signed between the LGU and the DPWH to use the site for the TTMF. It is targeted to be operational in October 2020.
On the agenda of installation of handwashing facilities, the project team said that the grant agreement had identified eight areas where they shall be installed, namely: public market, Barangay Poblacion, Hagnaya Wharf, fish port and bus terminal in Barangay Hagnaya, TTMF in Poblacion, public market in Barangay Tambongon, slaughterhouse in Barangay Lambuson, and San Juan Nepumuceno Church in Barangay Poblacion. Dr. Ursal said that the LGU has decided that the TTMF in Barangay Poblacion shall be changed to the TTMF in Barangay Tambongon, and that San Juan Nepumuceno Church be changed to the Mental health and Psychosocial Support (MPHSS) Center.
Dr. Ursal was provided a copy of the “Concept Designs of Handwashing Facilities: Strengthening Urban Resilience for Growh with Equity (SURGE) Project.” The project team informed her that they will canvass for the suppliers of the facilities to be installed in the municipality.
