More than 70% of rural health units in W. Visayas infected with COVID-19

Almost 73 percent, or 105 of the 143 rural health units (RHUs) in Region 6 have been infected with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), based on the data of the Department of Health-Western Visayas Center for Health Development (DOH-CHD 6) as of July 15, 2020.

According to Dr. Marie Jocelyn Te, medical coordinator for emerging and reemerging infectious diseases of DOH-CHD 6, the infected RHUs either have health workers who contracted COVID-19; COVID-19 positive patients; or those with health workers who had exposure to a confirmed case.

“When we say infected RHUs, these are those with health workers na infected, or they had positive patients. Ang iban ang ila health workers may exposure gale sa isa ka positive case,” Te told Daily Guardian in a phone interview on Sunday.

RHUs are the frontliners in the fight against COVID-19 as they help monitor suspected and confirmed cases in their communities.

Iloilo province recorded the highest number of infected RHUs with 37, followed by Negros Occidental and Bacolod City with 31; Capiz, 11; Antique and Aklan with 7 each; Iloilo City, 6; and Guimaras, 5.

Recently, DOH-CHD 6 reported in its case bulletins several health workers who contracted COVID-19.

The clustering of confirmed cases led to the temporary closure of RHUs in Alimodian, Bingawan, and New Lucena in Iloilo province to pave way for sanitation and decontamination.

Te noted that the surge of returning locally stranded individuals (LSIs) and repatriated Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) is also one of the contributory factors that may have led to COVID-19 infection in RHUs.

“Ang nagpauli nga LSIs laban gakadto sa RHUs for interview or swabbing. So indi gid kis-a masigurado ang possibility nga magka-exposure,” Te said.

She added that most of the confirmed cases in Region 6 are asymptomatic or do not exhibit any signs and symptoms of COVID-19, hence, health workers may be exposed to confirmed cases in RHUs without them even knowing it.

According to Te, some of the infected RHUs opted to temporarily close while others only closed certain portions for disinfection.

“Iban gina-close for disinfection. For those nga may positive health workers, gina-quarantine sila and mga close contacts ginapang-swab,” she added.

Despite the number of infected RHUs in Region 6, Te said that the public should not be alarmed as most of the confirmed cases in the RHUs have already recovered and are recovering.

To prevent the transmission of the virus, she reminded RHUs in the region to strengthen their personal protective equipment (PPE) for their health workers and regularly sanitize their areas.

Te also appealed to the LSIs and those visiting the RHUs to be honest in disclosing their travel history.

Western Visayas has 143 RHUs, including the District Health Centers in Iloilo City. (ERS)