LA TRINIDAD, Benguet, Sept.10(PIA) - - The construction of the COVID-19 testing laboratory at the Benguet General Hospital(BeGH) compound is expected to be completed by end the end of this month.
Governor Melchor Diclas hopes that by then the needed facilities will all be in place.
The facility was supposed to be completed last August but was extended to comply with a structurally pressurized installation as per molecular laboratory standards, Diclas explained. It is designed with a negative pressure installation which helps prevent airborne diseases or virus from escaping to avoid leakage and possible infection.
The Office of Congressman Eric Yap, the Benguet Caretaker, committed to provide additional equipment.
Yap earlier donated a reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and an automated extraction machine to BeGH. However, since it would not use it yet in the absence of its own laboratory then, the BeGH loaned out said machines to the Baguio General Hospital and Medical Center (BGHMC), the Department of Health sub-national testing laboratory for COVID-19 catering to the whole of Northern Luzon during the earlier months of the health crisis.
Diclas said Yap committed to purchase a new extraction automated machine for BeGH seeing that the BGHMC needs more the extraction machine since it is testing not only specimens of individuals in the Cordillera region but from other areas as well.
The Governor also informed that the SN Aboitiz Project – Benguet plans to donate either a PCR machine or an extractor to BeGH. This will be finalized in a memorandum of understanding with the provincial government.
The BeGH molecular laboratory would unload the BGHMC as it would cater to people from Benguet and nearby provinces.
As of September 9, Benguet has breached the 200-mark of COVID-19 cases with a total of 205, with 43 active cases, 161 recoveries and one death. There are also 3,631 suspects. (JDP/SCA-PIA-CAR, Benguet)
Source: Philippines Information Agency (pia.gov.ph)
0 Comments