MANDALUYONG CITY -- As the province of Cebu experiences a surge of COVID cases, the Philippine Red Cross (PRC) is all geared up to support the local government units and health care systems of the province. No less than the PRC Chairman and CEO Senator Richard Gordon ordered a team from PRC's Cebu Chapter to immediately arrange the deployment of Medical Tents to the affected areas.

At the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic last 2020, the Philippine Red Cross (PRC) formulated its response by establishing four pillars of support to the affected communities: Surveillance, Support to the Healthcare Systems and Authorities, and Business Continuity. These pillars became the humanitarian organization's singular systematic approach for better coordination towards prevention and recovery.

Last June 2020, the PRC led by Chairman and CEO Sen. Richard Gordon, put into action a health support program by deploying Medical Tents to serve as triages and isolation areas in Cebu to respond to the surge of cases in the region.

According to PRC Cebu Chapter Administrator Atty. Vera De Jesus, the chapter already has six medical tents. Yesterday, the PRC received six more from the PRC National Headquarters in Mandaluyong. Each tent measures 72 square meters with an eight- to ten-bed capacity and is fully equipped.

The target recipients of the new tents are big hospitals like the Vicente Sotto Medical Center, Talisay District Hospital, Cebu City Medical Center, Mandaue District Hospital, and Eversly Child Sanitarium Hospital just like when Cebu was placed under ECQ last June 15, 2021.

Additionally, the PRC will also be establishing a fully equipped Emergency Field Hospital (EFH) in Cebu with manpower and supplies from the local government unit of Cebu.

"No matter what happens, the Red Cross will continue to extend assistance to help especially the most vulnerable in this time of the pandemic," PRC Chairman and Senator Richard Gordon reiterates. (Philippine Red Cross)