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AFP, DOH team up for enhanced COVID-19 response

Philippines | National

AFP, DOH team up for enhanced COVID-19 response

By Martin Sadongdong

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) announced Wednesday, September 29, that it will enter into an agreement with the Department of Health (DOH) to define the deployment of military medical personnel to hospitals which are requesting for assistance due to the recent surge of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) cases.

Col. Fatima Claire Navarro is the first female surgeon general of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP). (Photo courtesy of AFP)

Colonel Fatima Claire Navarro, AFP Surgeon General, said the agreement seeks to elaborate the scope of cooperation between the two agencies amid the pandemic.

"It will detail the specific number of military doctors, nurses, and nursing aides that will be deployed as needed by the hospitals as well as the duration of their deployment to hospitals in need of support," Navarro said.

The agreement will be implemented by the AFP Health Service command as guided by the Office of the Surgeon General. The other details of the pact are expected to be announced soon once it is finalized.

"This agreement will solidify our continued support to our national government and manifests our commitment to win in our fight to end the COVID-19 pandemic," Navarro said.

The agreement would be the latest development in the military's efforts to help the government in its COVID-19 response.

Last week, the AFP deployed five medical teams to various hospitals in Metro Manila which were overwhelmed with cases and facing shortage in manpower as some of their staff were quarantined after being infected or have reportedly resigned due to delayed benefits.

The AFP have also started accepting applications for those interested to become members of the military's Medical Corps and Nurse Corps.

Related Tags

covid-19 Department of Health (DOH) 9292021 Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP)

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