MANILA: The World Health Organization (WHO) on Monday cited the Philippine’s COVID-19 vaccine rollout, rejecting claims of public reluctance to get inoculated against the disease.
“Right now, we don’t see a lot of (COVID-19) vaccine hesitancy in the Philippines. Actually, the issue is that the vaccine supply cannot meet the demand,” Dr. Rabindra Abeyasinghe, WHO representative to the Philippines, said during a virtual press briefing on Monday.
He added that while there had been initial vaccine hesitancy in the Philippines triggered mainly by an anti-dengue vaccine controversy in 2018 in terms of the COVID-19 jabs, many Filipinos were willing to get vaccinated.
(Photo from UP-PGH)
In a Facebook post, UP-PGH said it would pause accepting donations in the meantime because of the overwhelming breastmilk donation they received.
“Thank you so much for your kind hearts, for sharing your liquid gold (breastmilk), for saving lives of sick and premature babies. You’re all heroes!” the post read.
“Because of overwhelming breastmilk donation, we would like to withhold accepting breastmilk for now.”
The Sunday fire affected the power of its refrigerators where milk is stored, according to a Facebook post shared by the UP-PGH Milk Bank.
The blaze, which broke out on the third floor of the hospital early Sunday morning, May 16, forced patients to evacuate and transfer hospitals.
SunStar
Photo from UP PGH Child Protection Unit website
+ May 17, 2021 THE University of the Philippines-Philippine General Hospital (PGH) will resume its full operations Tuesday, May 18, two days after suspending admissions due to a fire that hit a portion of its building Sunday.
The fire broke out near the hospital’s operating rooms before dawn Sunday, May 16, prompting staff and responders to evacuate the patients.
Dr. Gerardo Legaspi, the PGH medical director, said in a press briefing that the fire has not directly affected the hospital’s Covid-19 facilities, but he asked for a one-day reprieve (May 17) to prepare for the resumption of operations by Tuesday.
Philippine General Hospital (Photo from UP)
In a Twitter post, PGH neurosurgeon Ron Baticulon said the hospital is in need of ready-to-eat food, bottled water, bed linen, and pillows.
“For food, bring to Ortoll [building], left side when entering from Taft. For non-food items, bring to Nurses Home, right side when entering from Taft,” Baticulon wrote.
Following the fire that hit part of the UP Philippine General Hospital in the early hours of the morning on May 16, the UP-PGH needs your help.
Meanwhile, PGH Fiscal Services cautioned against unauthorized donation drives.
MSG FR PGH FISCAL SERVICES
Good morning! Please beware of individuals calling for donations to PGH and providing bank accounts in the name of individuals.