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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider Luzon devider Caraga region's 1st molecular lab to open in August

Caraga region's 1st molecular lab to open in August

Published Jul 30, 2020 08:56 am

BUTUAN CITY – The region’s first molecular diagnostic laboratory for patients infected with the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is ready for operation in August following its inauguration at the Butuan Medical Center (BMC) on Monday.

The ground works for the molecular diagnostic laboratory started in May this year and was completed early last week.

Butuan City Mayor Ronnie Vicente C. Lagnada asked the permission of National Task Force (NTF) COVID-19 Chief Implementer Secretary Carlito Galvez, Jr. to have the city’s own Bio-Molecular PCR Laboratory at BMC on May 9.

The inauguration and blessing was attended by city officials led by Mayor Lagnada, BMC Officer-In-Charge Director Dr. Caridad Burdeos-Plete, DOH 13 Regional Director Dr. Jose R. Llacuna, Jr., Department of Science and Technology (DOST 13) Regional Director Dominga Mallonga, and members of the city legislative body.

Fr. John Christian Young and Rev. Fr. RandyJasper Odchigue led the blessing of the BMC Molecular Laboratory, Covid-19 ward, ambulance, storage building, administrative and finance offices of the hospital.

The 50-bed capacity COVID-19 facility has two recovery rooms, four critical/intensive care units (ICUs) and wards. 

In his message, Mayor Lagnada thanked all those who helped in establishing the region’s first COVID-19 Molecular Laboratory.

“This is really a very vital facility in our fight against the dreaded disease,” he said.

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