Manila hiring more health workers

FILE: Medical technologists of the Philippine Coast Guard help each other wear personal protective equipment (PPE) during the opening of the swabbing facility at the Palacio De Maynila, Roxas Boulevard, Manila on Tuesday (May 5, 2020). (PNA photo by Robert Oswald P. Alfiler)

MANILA – The city of Manila is hiring more medical personnel as part of response efforts to the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic, Mayor Francisco “Isko” Moreno Domagoso said Friday.

In his regular city address, Domagoso said he met with the city’s local finance department and urged them to prioritize the hiring of healthcare workers.

“Kung kayo ay medical technologist, nurse, doctor, halimbawa, katulad ngayon isang challenge ngayon mga OFW (overseas Filipino workers), yung iba nawalan ng trabaho (if you are a medical technologist, nurse, doctor, like those OFWs who may have lost their jobs abroad). The city of Manila is hiring,” he said.

The Manila Public Information Office said the Sta. Ana Hospital/Manila Infectious Disease Control Center initially has vacant positions for 30 nurses and 10 slots for medical doctors.

The Sta. Ana Hospital has recently hired five new Medical Technicians for its testing laboratory.

Domagoso, meanwhile, said it has always been his dream for the city to have its own testing laboratory.

“Ang pangarap ko para sa inyo ay magtatag tayo ng sarili nating testing laboratory at pagandahin, palakasin pa ang kakayahan ng ating mga ospital sa pagbili ng mga makabagong equipment at proteksyon ng ating mga front-liners (it has always been my dream for Manila residents to have our very own testing laboratory, and improve and strengthen the capabilities of our hospitals by acquiring modern medical equipment and give protection to our front-liners),” he added.

Aside from the recently acquired eight mobile digital x-ray machines, Domagoso said that the city plans to acquire a CT scanner, electrocardiogram (ECG), operating microscope, and an ambulance.