ERWIN P. NICAVERA
July 30, 2020 AS TO when the Covid-19 pandemic will end, it remains uncertain. But, what is sure for now is the growing number of Filipinos facing mental health issues while the crisis continues to bring onslaught to the country. The National Center for Mental Health, in a media briefing last month, noted a spike in the figure as shown in the surge of calls it received through its hotline during the lockdown period. The center, in a report, said from an average of 13 to 15 calls daily a few months prior to the lockdown, it climbed up to 35 calls per day during the implementation of strict quarantine measures. The World Health Organization (WHO) said that added to the fear of contracting the virus in a pandemic such as Covid-19 are the significant changes to the people's daily lives as their movements are restricted. Faced with new realities of working from home, temporary unemployment, home-schooling of children, and lack of physical contact with other family members, friends and colleagues, it is important that people look after their mental, as well as our physical health, it said. Taking steps The City Government of Bacolod has already recognized the importance of giving attention to the issue of mental health amid the Covid-19 pandemic that struck and caught the world unprepared. Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran, chairman of the City Inter-Agency Task Force against Covid-19, has started convening mental health professionals and advocates in the city earlier this month. The group, during these meetings, discussed the steps on how to integrate psychosocial measures and approaches in the community as part of the local responses against the dreaded virus. As of July 29, the Department of Health (DOH) in Western Visayas reported that the number of confirmed Covid-19 cases in Bacolod City surged to 176. Over 50 cases are local transmissions. The agency noted 59 recoveries, while the active cases are 113. The death toll remains at four, it added. Familiaran said depression and other disorders including anxiety are really prevalent among Covid-19 patients and their families, as well as frontliners. "The quarantine has been extended and the positive cases continue to rise. News and social media posts are all about the virus," he said, adding that "depression is really there, it's going to the ground." The task force chair is upbeat that the volunteer group will help in the bid to address the mental health issue in the locality. Among the initial strategies they have identified included provision of different online interventions like psychological first aid, debriefing, counselling and other psychological support to those in need. Once finalized, Familiaran will then discuss the measure to Mayor Evelio Leonardia including the creation of a Mental Health Psychosocial Committee as part of the city's task force against Covid-19. "This is really aimed at helping our constituents who suffered from stress, traumatic experience and depression," the task force chair said. Advocacy Rose Jessica Octaviano, who has been advocating for mental health since 2009, is one of those who responded to the call of the local government to face this "emotional monster" that threatens the mental health of the city residents. Octaviano was a member of the defunct Philippine Mental Health Association that spearheaded activities like mental health awareness and mental disorder prevention. In the province, she is part of the Psychological Association of the Philippines - Mental Health Psychosocial Support Bacolod-Negros Hub that is providing trainings on Psychological First Aid to barangays and various groups. Presently, Octaviano is an active member of the Western Visayas Psychosocial Support for Covid-19, a social media group that provides online therapy to those needing interventions. "We hope that even after this Covid-19, the partnership with the government sector will continue," she said, lamenting that "before, only private individuals and non-government organizations are working hand-in-hand." "The government assists in terms of funding, but it was seemingly not its priority," the mental health advocate, also a depression survivor, said. One of the significant volunteer works of Octaviano was the creation of a directory containing information on where to get mental health services in Negros Occidental. This directory had linked patients of various mental disorders with mental health professionals thereby enabling the former to seek proper interventions and eventually recover from these abnormalities. "There are private individuals and groups who are really willing to help. Personally, my line of communications remains open, whether through email and Facebook, that's an assurance," she said, adding that "if the case is serious, since I am not a registered psychologist, I can refer them to appropriate mental health professionals." Brain break tips The DOH, for its part, has recognized the real threats brought by the pandemic to the mental health of the Filipinos. In fact, it has issued some tips in order to maintain a good mental health amid this global crisis. These include staying positive and maintaining a healthy lifestyle. People are also advised to give time for themselves to reflect, meditate and go back to the skills and resources which had previously helped them lessen their stress. The health agency said if there's a need to talk to mental health professionals, the National Center for Mental Health and Mind Matters Hotlines can be reached through their hotlines 09178998727 and 09189424864, respectively. Seeking help For Ortibano, seeking help from a mental health professional should not be ashamed of. Aside from the medicines and psychotherapy provided by psychiatrists and psychologists, the emotional and social support from the family are essential to help people suffering from depression. "Connect, those people you haven't checked for a while, checked them. Talk to your trusted friends. Your family, your mother. If they are not around, those that you can trust," the psychologist said. In Kenneth's case, for instance, his family and friends have helped a lot in overcoming this "emotional monster" that had almost swallowed his mental health. He was able to meet some friends online, who are also active in church activities like him. They have served as Kenneth's support group to divert his attention and lessen the boredom and sadness he felt while on quarantine. "If you keep it to yourself, you will never know in what way you will explode. You should keep your faith whatever happens," he shared. Breaking the scare The issue on mental health is not new to the Philippines. Before the Covid-19 has shocked the nation, many Filipinos have already been suffering from various mental disorders. As the country continues to be confronted by tragedies, calamities and many other events that have caused turmoil in the society, the people also need to be mentally prepared. Depression is no joke, it is an "emotional monster" that may frighten anyone. Thus, this matter should continue to be an agenda for public discussion. That, whether there is a pandemic, or none, it should be given due importance. Like how the entire nation fights Covid-19, Filipinos must also be one in breaking the scare of depression.
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BACOLOD CITY, Philippines — Doctors’ groups are asking President Duterte and the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) on Emerging Infectious Diseases to place this city under enhanced community quarantine or ECQ for two weeks to contain the spread of coronavirus disease 2019.
In a letter to the President, the Canlaon Medical Society and Negros Occidental Medical Society, both affiliates of the Philippine Medical Association, said the battle against COVID-19 is far from over. The Canlaon Medical Society and Negros Occidental Medical Society are headed by Ma. Ivy Malata and Roberto Puerta, respectively. Noting the spike of positive cases in Bacolod, Malata and Puerta said the local transmission is reaching its peak in the past few days. They said some hospitals have reached their full bed capacity for COVID cases and several healthcare workers and frontliners have been confined or home-quarantined. The groups said they are not equipped for a full-scale COVID-19 war, noting the city has only a few hospitals with limited capacity and equipment. “We are a few steps from becoming the next epicenter. We hope you can help us prevent that from happening,” Malata and Puerta said in the letter. Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran, chair of the local COVID task force, said the national task force has the power to decide on the quarantine status of Bacolod. Mayor Evelio Leonardia ordered the old Bacolod city hall building on Araneta street locked down starting yesterday after some employees got infected with the virus. Negros Occidental Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson does not want the province be reverted back to either general or enhanced community quarantine due to economic impact. BACOLOD City officials were satisfied with the fifth State of the Nation Address (Sona) of President Rodrigo Duterte that was delivered at the Batasang Pambansa in Quezon City on Monday, July 27.
Mayor Evelio Leonardia said the Sona was comprehensive and it was even in details as it practically enumerated the significant events, programs and projects of the Duterte administration. "It was the first Sona delivered against the backdrop of the coronavirus disease (Covid-19). It gave us a picture of the challenges the government and the nation had to face and how our people were tested to balance health and the economy. And indeed we've passed the test of resiliency," he said. He added that this subject matter of the speech included an intimate personal appeal of the President to China for help in his intense desire to deliver our people out of the crisis. It provided some ray of hope that the vaccine can come sooner than later. Leonardia said: "It was also informative and inspirational when he mentioned Bayanihan Act Part 2, increased testing capacity nationwide, the millions who availed of government assistance, Malasakit Centers to cater to the needy, the direction towards digitalization and elimination of physical queuing in government offices and many others." "His serious intention to make telecoms improve their service was like a light at the end of the tunnel. Also, we are appreciative that he made special mention of the efforts and solid contributions of the local government units (LGUs) in the fight against Covid-19," he said. He added a highlight of the Sona is his declaration that this crisis has brought out the best of the Filipino people. Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran also said that it was a comprehensive Sona, which he mentioned the programs and projects of the government and the fight against Covid-19. He said Duterte also mentioned that he will not allow face-to-face classes while there is no vaccine for the Covid-19. "It's for the safety of everybody. He will not put at risk the life of our students and teachers," he added. Familiaran said he is satisfied with the performance of the President. BACOLOD City Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran warned netizens of spreading unverified reports on social media.
This came after some netizens posted on social media Monday, July 27, that Bacolod City will be placed under enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) or general community quarantine (GCQ) after July 31. "It's only a speculation or fake news. Let's educate our public that every 15 days or end of the month, the National Inter-Agency Task Force against coronavirus disease (Covid-19) will release the quarantine status of the all local government units (LGUs) in the country," Familiaran said. He said the netizens should stop posting unverified reports on social media and should be responsible with their posts. Familiaran noted that there are criteria or perimeters to consider for the quarantine status of the LGUs. "They have criteria to consider in changing the quarantine status of the LGUs. It will be based on the inputs and data from the Department of Health (DOH)," Familiaran said. A group of doctors in Bacolod City also earlier appealed to President Rodrigo Duterte and the NIATF for ECQ for at least two weeks to help contain the virus in the city. On their letter dated July 26, 2020 addressed to Duterte and signed by Dr. Ma. Ivy Malata, Philippine Medical Association- Canlaon Medical Society president, and Dr. Roberto Puerta, Philippine Medical Association-Negros Occidental Medical Society president, they said that there has been a rapid spike in the Covid-19 cases in the community, with local transmission reaching its highest in the past few days. "We would like to appeal to the NIATF for an ECQ for at least two weeks to help us contain the virus. We are not equipped for a full-blast Covid war. We only have a few hospitals, with limited capacity and equipment. We are just a few steps from being the next epicenter, and we fervently hope that you can help us prevent that from happening. We in the medical community believe that this is the best way by which we can at least halt the spread of local transmission," they said. Familiaran said the doctors were also present Monday in a Zoom meeting of regional directors of DOH, Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), and businessmen among others and it was explained to them that it's not that easy to impose an ECQ in a LGU. "I respect their recommendation and let's wait for the final decision of the NIATF," he said. He added currently, some puroks in various barangays in the city were already sealed-off to prevent the spread of covid-19. City Health Office (CHO) records showed some areas that were sealed off include Barangay Estefania -- Purok Villamar, Celine Homes, Greensville; Barangay 12 -- Purok Malipayon; Barangay 35 -- Alunan-Yulo Extension; Barangay Tangub -- Villa Esperanza, Purok Seaside; Barangay Alijis; Barangay 27 -- Gonzaga Extension; Barangay Taculing -- Puroks Kabukiran, Lerio, Goldland Vil., Masagana; Barangay Mansilingan -- Plaza Allana Arceo Drive; Barangay Villamonte -- CL Montelibano Drive; Barangay Vista Alegre -- Villa Angela, Abada Escay; Barangay Banago -- Puroks Mahimulaton, Bayanihan, Riverside; Barangay 26 -- Purok Masanag; and Barangay 29 -- Purok Paghidaet. "It's clustering lockdown because we cannot afford to lockdown the entire city. Let's cooperate to prevent the spread of the virus," Familiaran said. Imbis city-wide lockdown, ginapatuman ang cluster lockdown sa nga lugar nga may nagpositibo sa COVID-19. Sa interview sang Brigada News Fm Bacolod kay Bacolod Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran, head sang Bacolod Inter-Agency Task Force against COVID-19 ini na karon ang mangin pamaagi sang syudad kadungan sang nagataas nga kaso sang nagposibo sa coronavirus. Suno kay Familiaran igapatigayon ang evaluation sang lugar, radius sang posible nga infection, kag random swabbing sa mga persona nga may close contact sa nagpositibo sa COVID-19. Sa kaso sang Purok Mahimulaton, Brgy. Banago nga may 633 ka pamilya kag Purok Seaside, Brgy Tangub nga may kapin sa 100 ka pamilya ang madala sa cluster lockdown kon sa diin tanan nga may mga simtoma sang COVID-19 igapaidalum sa swabbing. Ginpanindugan man ni Familiaran nga nagsugod na ang local transmission sadto pa kay patient number 8 kag 9 kon sa diin nga ginlockdown ang pila ka purok nga nahamtang sa Brgy. Villamonte kag Brgy. Banago bangod sang nag positive sa virus. There were 80 new COVID-19 positive cases in Negros Occidental and Bacolod City during the weekend, the Department of Health reported.
Negros Occidental has 51 new cases, of which 6 are local transmissions, bringing the total number of cases in the province to 409. Bacolod City has 29 new COVID-19 cases, of which 25 are local transmissions, bringing the total to 150. Philippine Medical Association – Canlaon Medical Society president, Dr. Ma. Ivy Malata, and Philippine Medical Association – Negros Occidental Medical Society president, Dr. Roberto Puerta, in a letter to President Rodrigo Duterte yesterday called for the declaration of an Enhanced Community Quarantine over Bacolod City for two weeks. “We are not equipped for a full-blast Covid war,” they said. They appealed to the National Inter-Agency Task Force for an ECQ for at least two weeks to help contain the virus, enable the healthcare system to recuperate, and to give time to institute and implement appropriate interventions, especially with the way Locally Stranded Individuals and overseas Filipino workers are being handled, they said. “We only have a few hospitals, with limited capacity and equipment. We are just a few steps from being the next epicenter, and we fervently hope that you can help us prevent that from happening,” the doctors added. “We believe this is the best way by which we can halt or at least slow down the spread of local transmission, at the same time fix the loopholes that we have in our system, that have led to the situation we are experiencing now,” they said. They pointed out that there has been a rapid spike in the COVID-19 positive cases, with local transmission reaching its highest in the past few days. “We are now the highest in Western Visayas, and there are hundreds of pending results coming in,” they said. They also pointed out that numerous healthcare workers and frontliners have been admitted or home-quarantined. Bacolod Mayor Evelio Leonardia held a virtual meeting with leaders of the doctors’ groups Saturday that he described as very good. “We respect the views and opinions of these doctors but I was surprised to learn of their letter to the president” only last night, he said, as it was not mentioned to him in their meeting Saturday. He said the recommendations mentioned by the doctors in their letter to the president were the matters that they took up Saturday. They suggested an ECQ that was not resolved yet on Saturday, he said. They had already set a meeting with representatives of the medical community, business leaders and city officials this afternoon to be joined by Health Regional Director Dr. Marlyn Convocar to further tackle the COVID-19 situation in Bacolod, he said. “We will make a clear and honest assessment of the situation and will submit it to the (national) IATF,” Leonardia said, adding that today’s meeting will be critical. It is the national IATF that has the authority to decide what quarantine status Bacolod City will be placed under, Bacolod Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran said. The City Health Office reported that, of the 27 new confirmed cases Saturday, 19 are close contacts of COVID Patient No. 89, three are LSIs, three are health care workers, and two are local cases. There were no details yet about the two new local transmissions yesterday. Patient No. 89 was reported to be a liaison officer of the General Services Office. Familiaran said she infected the employees of the Office of the Senior Citizens Affairs.* BY CARLA P. GOMEZ BACOLOD City – Home quarantine will no longer be allowed for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) positive patients in this city. “All positive cases, whether asymptomatic or mild, should be placed in isolation facilities,” Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran, who chairs the City Inter-Agency Task Force against COVID-19, reiterated. According to Familiaran, local authorities can’t be assured if those patients are really observing the proper protocols of home quarantine. He said Mayor Evelio Leonardia is set to issue an executive order for this in the coming days. Familiaran added the local government also intends to transfer all close contacts of an infected patient spending quarantine in their homes to isolation facilities in the city. He, however, did not divulge the total number of COVID-19 patients and close contacts undergoing home quarantine. Citing the risk of spreading the novel coronavirus inside the same household, the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) recently discouraged home quarantine for mild COVID-19 patients. Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles, also the co-chair of IATF-EID, said the dangerous thing about home quarantine is that COVID-19 is contagious. There will be a greater chance that a patient may infect other members of the family, he added. The Department of Health allows patients deemed asymptomatic or with mild symptoms to quarantine at home, provided that they have their own room and bath and are monitored by barangay health workers./PN BACOLOD City – Home quarantine will no longer be allowed for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) positive patients in this city. “All positive cases, whether asymptomatic or mild, should be placed in isolation facilities,” Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran, who chairs the City Inter-Agency Task Force against COVID-19, reiterated. According to Familiaran, local authorities can’t be assured if those patients are really observing the proper protocols of home quarantine. He said Mayor Evelio Leonardia is set to issue an executive order for this in the coming days. Familiaran added the local government also intends to transfer all close contacts of an infected patient spending quarantine in their homes to isolation facilities in the city. He, however, did not divulge the total number of COVID-19 patients and close contacts undergoing home quarantine. Citing the risk of spreading the novel coronavirus inside the same household, the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) recently discouraged home quarantine for mild COVID-19 patients. Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles, also the co-chair of IATF-EID, said the dangerous thing about home quarantine is that COVID-19 is contagious. There will be a greater chance that a patient may infect other members of the family, he added. The Department of Health allows patients deemed asymptomatic or with mild symptoms to quarantine at home, provided that they have their own room and bath and are monitored by barangay health workers./PN THE molecular biology laboratory at the Corazon Locsin Montelibano Memorial Regional Hospital (CLMMRH) in Bacolod City will prioritize testing the locally stranded individuals (LSIs) and repatriated overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in the city.
This was stressed by Vice Mayor El Cid Familiran after they held a familiarization tour at the CLMMRH Level 3 Biosafety Molecular Laboratory Tuesday, July 7, along with Mayor Evelio Leonardia and the city councilors. Familiaran said the bio lab has different rooms and they were briefed on the process of the swab specimen for the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) test. "It's very safe inside and its medical personnel were wearing different personal protective equipment (PPE) because there were low and high risks areas," he said. The bio lab will start to operate on July 10 and it can process at least 100 results daily. "Through the bio lab operation, we can determine the result through the City Health Office and for those who will be tested positive, we can act and decide immediately. Currently, we are sending swab samples to Iloilo City," Familiaran said. He said they will prioritize testing the LSIs and OFWs because they are now at high risk of Covid-19 and it's for free. The City Government of Bacolod earlier allotted a total of P20 million for the construction of the bio lab at CLMMRH and to purchase testing kits. Dr. Julius Drilon, chief of CLMMRH, earlier said the bio lab will diagnose severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (Sars-CoV-2). Aside from Sars-CoV-2, Drilon said the bio lab can also cater the dengue, tuberculosis, aids test, DNA typing and genomic research. "But for now, we will dedicate this facility to diagnose Sars-CoV-2 because of the organism of the coronavirus disease (Covid-19). We will be conservatively running it in the first few weeks and probably we can have 100 results per day," he added. Drilon said the bio lab will cater not only to the residents of Bacolod City but also all the residents of Negros Occidental and even Negros Oriental to ease the burden of Central Visayas. BACOLOD. Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran. (SunStar File) VICE Mayor El Cid Familiaran initiated a meeting with mental health professionals and advocates in Bacolod recently, to discuss initiatives on integrating psychosocial measures and approaches to the city’s response against Covid-19.
Familiaran, who chairs the city’s Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) Against Covid-19, said the initiative is in response specifically to the growing discrimination against Covid-19-positive patients. “We initiated this because of the prevailing situation that our Covid-19 positive patients are being discriminated in their community. They have experienced traumatic and distressing experiences and this might lead to depression,” the vice mayor said. During the meeting, mental health practitioners shared their own experiences, brainstormed ideas and came up with initiatives to address the current issues of mental health amid the pandemic. They are planning to establish a Mental Health Office to centralize and integrate relevant mental health measures, and to ensure a holistic approach in health and wellness. The group also agreed to propose the establishment of an online support system for quarantined individuals and their families, Covid-19 positive patients and the general public's benefit; and the establishment of a Mental Health Psychosocial Task Force to be integrated to the city’s IATF. Familiaran said he will bring up to Mayor Evelio Leonardia and the IATF all these suggestions and other matters discussed in the meeting. A follow-up meeting with mental health professionals and advocates will be held on July 9 at the Bacolod City Government Center. Familiaran also reminded Bacolodnons to take care of their mental health by thinking positively, doing exercise, eating healthy food and getting good sleep. Attending the meeting were Dr. Anna Maria Laarni Pornan of the Bacolod City Health Office, Bernadeth Montelibano of the Bacolod City DRRM Office, Dr. Johnny Decatoria of LCC-B, Dr. Donalyn Lastima of the Philippine Guidance Counselors Association – Negros Occidental Guidance Counselors Association, Marie Bernadeth Villanueva of Riverside College and Western Visayas Psychological Support, Rose Jessica Octaviano of Hope Foundation, Rowena Bañes of the USLS, Malou Eudela of Australia Awards, Bebce Gentilezo of JCI–Bacolod, Aileen Tranquilo of CHMSC-Talisay City, Ana Lou Panganiban of TUP-V, and Isabel Coscolluela. (PR) |
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