Face masks needed: call for protective equipment donations from hospitals and organizations

While most of us are at home in observance of the community quarantine, there are brave health workers on the frontlines serving the nation’s interest and risking their lives to ensure our safety. Continuing to provide medical attention, they work round the clock despite the danger that COVID-19 may also pose to their own health.

However, it has come to the public’s attention that several hospitals are already running out of personal protective equipment (PPE) for their medical staff. 

Some staff members, like those at the Jose R. Reyes Memorial Medical Center, have resorted to purchasing their own face masks after supplies ran out—which has gotten more worrying due to it being sold out in most stores.

At the Rizal Medical Center, it was also reported that nurses have unfortunately been wearing the same mask for the entire duration of their shift instead as they are unable to replace their masks for every prescribed period of four hours due to the shortage.

[READ: Despite potential losses due to COVID-19, these QC restaurants are helping feed medical frontliners]

Since there is no telling how long the COVID-19 outbreak will last, hospitals all around the country have voiced out their call for donations to cover the insufficient stock of supplies provided to them amid the crisis.

Several organizations have also stepped up to help provide an avenue for people who wish to aid hospitals with donations in cash or kind. 

If you have cash or supplies to spare which you would like to give to our courageous health workers, check out the following organizations and hospitals:

University of the Philippines – Philippine General Hospital (UP-PGH)

Among those in dire need of PPE right now is the state-owned hospital in Manila, which is currently housing a 1:16 nurse-to-patient ratio in its ward and 1:28 in its emergency room—far from the ideal 1:12. It was also reported that a supplier for the hospital failed to deliver the 90,000 masks they needed. 

With the shortage they are experiencing, UP-PGH has reached out to fellow Filipinos via social media with a call for in-kind donations of the following:

• Surgical mask
• N95 mask
• Face shield
• Surgical gown
• 70 percent ethyl alcohol

Donations may be directed to PGH’s coordinator for resource generation Dr. Mia Tabuñar via phone at 0919-3506917 or the PGH Office local 2004.

It may also be dropped off at the following address, coursed through the Department of Emergency Medicine (DEM-ER) Officer: Department of Emergency Medicine (DEM) Resident’s Callroom, First Floor PGH, Taft Avenue, Ermita, Manila.

Cebu Institute of Medicine

N95 and surgical masks, alcohol, and raincoats are in-kind donations that the hospital is currently asking for, and may be dropped off from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Cebu Institute of Medicine lobby or Cebu Velez General Hospital (CVGH) information desk at F. Ramos St., Cebu City.

For further information and inquiries, donors may contact Cebu Institute Medicine – Supreme Student Council president McJohn Ybañez at 0917-3552568 or CVGH via Dr. Manuel Donaldo at 0917-3204149.

UP Medical Foundation and The Outstanding Women in the Nation’s Service

UP Medical Foundation (UPMF) and The Outstanding Women in the Nation’s Service (TOWNS) have also teamed up for a donation drive that will gather PPE and other medical supplies that will be matched to specific hospitals in need.

Those who wish to donate may do so in cash or in kind. For the latter, UPMF and TOWNS ask for any of the following in any quantity: 

• N95 masks 
• Surgical gloves
• 3 ply mouth masks
• alcohol spray/alcogel
• Face shield/disposable eye shields/goggles
• Disposable non-woven gowns
• Disposable hoods
• Disposable shoe covers

If you have any of those listed above, kindly message 0977-2401211 with your name/location/supplies and quantity.

Meanwhile, cash donations can be deposited to the following account:

The U.P. Medical Foundation, Inc.

Bank: BDO, Bocobo-Pedro Gil Branch

Account Number: 00-353-0094-018

Swift Code: BNORPHMM

For proper recording of cash donations, sponsors are asked to send a photo of their validated deposit slip with their name through email to upmf1980@gmail.com or Viber to 0922-3388051.

Donors may also choose to remain anonymous and send the amount deposited and date/time deposited to the same Viber account. A Certificate of Donation is also available upon request coursed through the same email or Viber account by sending a copy of the following: validated deposit slip/name of donor/TIN/address.

Far Eastern University

The FEU-Nicanor Reyes Medical Foundation Medicine Student Council is also encouraging everyone to donate their extra face masks, surgical or N95, for their Residents on Duty through the following drop-off points, either personally or via courier:

#52 Luna Residences, Consul St., West Fairview, Quezon City (c/o Javin Bonquin, 0977-4204916)

or

#1C Buick St. Corner Chevelle St. West Fairview, Quezon City (c/o Hazel Chumacera at 0927-1955388)

Ateneo de Manila University

The Ateneo DReaM Team, alongside Tanging Yaman Foundation, Simbahang Lingkod ng Bayan, and Manila Observatory, is calling for cash donations to fund PPE for our health workers as well.

These can be coursed through either Ateneo de Manila University or the Tanging Yaman Foundation via bank transfer and online channels only. Those from abroad may also partake in the fund drive by directing U.S dollar donations through Ateneo. More details may be found below:

Header photo courtesy of Inquirer.net

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