The Philippine Red Cross (PRC) is seeking volunteer medical workers who will be stationed at its isolation centers.
PRC Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Senator Richard Gordon and PRC lead researcher Dr. Michael Tee made the call in an interview with TeleRadyo.
“‘Yung walang ginagawa dyan, gusto magkaroon ng self worth puwede kyo magpalista sa Red Cross, sa 143. Gusto nyo magvolunteer tumulong pipiliin namin kayo (To those who are doing nothing, and want to have self-worth, you may have yourself enlisted in Red Cross 143 program. If you want to volunteer, if you want to help, we will choose you),” Gordon said.
He said the volunteer medical workers will look after the needs of the asymptomatic coronavirus disease (COVID-19) patients staying in PRC’s isolation centers.
During a virtual turnover of SM Supermalls donations for the isolation centers on Wednesday, April 14, Gordon said it has tapped more schools to be used as isolation centers for asymptomatic patients "to save lives because if not, we are going to lose more people.”
Tee said they have already 10 volunteer-doctors and will be needing more healthcare workers, including nurses to assist in their isolation centers.
“Bagamat may kama tayo, kailangan natin ng mga healthcare workers (Even though we have beds, we need healthcare workers to assist us),” he said.
He appealed to the Philippine Nurses Association (PNA) and those non-members of the group to grab the opportunity to help the country fight COVID-19.
“Tumawag po kayo sa Red Cross, meron po tayong pagkakataon na tumulong sa ating bayan magbantay nang hindi naman talagang severe (Please contact Red Cross, you have the chance to help our country by looking after patients with moderate COVID cases),” Tee said.
He said the volunteer healthcare workers will be deployed to isolation facilities near their areas.
He said the volunteers will be given full personal protective equipment (PPE) and free vaccination.