Presidential aspirant Vice President Leni Robredo on Wednesday, Jan. 5, called on medical doctors and non-medical volunteers to join her free telemedicine consultation initiative called Bayanihan E-Konsulta as the number of new daily coronavirus disease (COVID-19) cases in the country increased.
Robredo made the call on her Facebook page, saying that the telemedicine needs a fresh batch of medical doctors, licensed mental health professionals, and non-medical volunteers.
“Para po sa mga gustong mag-volunteer, paalala lang po na kailangang may sariling computer/laptop, smartphone, at internet connection para sa E-Konsulta (For those who want to volunteer, may we remind you that you need your own computer/laptop, smartphone, and internet connection for E-Konsulta),” she wrote.
“Malaking bagay po ang inyong tulong at pakikiisa. Maraming salamat po (Your help and cooperation will be a big help. Thank you very much),” Robredo added.
According to the post, the initiative needs general practitioners, allergologists, pediatrics-endocrinologists, general surgeons, pediatric surgeons, internists, neurologists, urologists, adult infectious disease specialists, gastroenterologists, developmental pediatricians, rehab medicine, and other specializations.
For mental health professionals and non-medical volunteers, Robredo is looking for psychiatrists, licensed psychologists, licensed psychometricians, counselors, students of master’s degree in clinical psychology, and other volunteers with mental health training and experience.
The Bayanihan E-Konsulta also needs call bridgers as well medical but non-doctor volunteers such as medical technologists, nurses, and other non-doctor medical professionals.
READ: Robredo takes E-Konsulta graveyard shift to handle COVID-19 calls
Call bridging agents can come from any educational background as long as they can connect volunteer doctors with the patients.
Robredo posted the sign-up links for medical doctors, mental health professionals, medical but non-doctor volunteers, call bridging agents, and other volunteers on her Facebook page.
The Bayanihan E-Konsulta initiative was launched in April last year because of the surge in COVID cases. It has received and processed thousands of requests since its conception.
The Office of the Vice President (OVP) also delivers a COVID care kit to patients who tested positive to the virus and with prior approval from the attending physician. The kit consists of a thermometer, pulse oximeter, face masks, sanitizers, gloves, basic medicines, and vitamins.
Robredo earlier said that Bayanihan E-Konsulta is open to both COVID and non-COVID patients in the National Capital Region (NCR) and nearby provinces.