By JOHN VINCENT B. TORIBIO

Amid the COVID-19 threat, the Mariano Marcos State University (MMSU) has opened its doors to frontline health service providers.

As a part of the Saranay against COVID-19, the university’s program responding to the emerging needs of frontliners, MMSU began to accommodate health service providers who report to or visit the Mariano Marcos Memorial Hospital and Medical Center (MMMH-MC) in the City of Batac.

Since the start of this month, nineteen have already stayed in the University Hostel and Mansion.

The University Hostel accommodated ten officials from the World Health Organization (WHO), Department of Health and Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM) last April 3. The team visited the facilities of the MMMH-MC.

Also, nine health care providers from MMMH-MC also stayed at the Mansion from April 1 to 14.

As of today, only one MMMH-MC worker is already staying at the Mansion. However, the university assures that it will remain open for the medical workers until it is needed. 

MMSU and MMMH-MC have signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) last March 27 for this purpose. In the agreement, the university shall provide a “half-way house” for hospital personnel until the Enhanced Community Quarantine is lifted, subject to extension if necessary.

Eighteen beds in four rooms have been pledged by the university in this MOA.

Consequently, the MMMH-MC guarantees that thorough disinfection of the area is being done while its employees stay in the university premises.

MMSU President Shirley C. Agrupis said, “the university will continue to stretch its resources and be flexible in its response against the COVID-19 crisis.”

She added that the administration will continue to find ways to serve the people through its “humble yet vigorous effort against the pandemic - in the name of MMSU Saranay.” (StratCom)