Kinumpirma ng Department of Health (DOH) na tumanggap sila ng mga Emergency Operation Center (EOC) Information and Communications Technology (ICT) equipment na nagkakahalaga ng P4.8 milyon mula sa European Union (EU) at World Health Organization (WHO) Philippines.
Laking pasalamat naman ng DOH dahil malaking tulong anila ang mga naturang kagamitan upang makapagkaloob sila ng episyente at epektibong pagtugon sa mga public health emergencies o disasters at tiyakin ang pagpapatuloy ng paghahatid ng health services delivery sa panahon ng mga krisis.
Nabatid na ang mga EOCs ay dadalhin sa East Avenue Medical Center at sa Centers for Health Development ng Central Luzon, Central Visayas, at Davao, na pawang strategic na makipag-coordinate sa mga sub-national scale emergency operations o umaksiyon sa alternatibong national emergency operations centers.
“The European Union has been a steadfast ally of the Philippines both in tackling disasters with humanitarian aid, and also by supporting national and local authorities’ work on disaster preparedness for many years now. In particular, since 2020, health emergencies have become a very real threat. The EU is therefore proud to be supporting the Department of Health to secure its communication and coordination capabilities during major crises. This will protect lives”, ayon pa kay Christoph Wagner, Head ng Cooperation sa EU Delegation to the Philippines.
Anang DOH, ang naturang donasyon ay bahagi ng 20 milyong euro (P1.232 bilyon) South East Asia Health Pandemic Response at Preparedness programme, kung saan ang EU ay nakipagtuwang sa WHO at sa ASEAN Secretariat upang palakasin ang national health systems ng rehiyon, upang labanan ang COVID-19 pandemic at tiyaking makakaagapay sila sa mga health crises sa hinaharap.
Napag-alaman na sa nakalipas na tatlong taon, ang naturang programme ay nakapag-invest na ng nasa 2.3 milyong euro (P141.68 milyon) sa Pilipinas.
“We hope that this donation will help achieve the recommended minimum operational requirements in ensuring uninterrupted health service delivery in emergencies and disasters,” ayon naman kay Dr. Rui Paulo de Jesus, WHO Representative to the Philippines.
Sa kanyang panig, sinabi naman ni DOH Secretary Teodoro J. Herbosa na, “Thank you to the EU and the WHO for the support by providing P4.8 million in cutting-edge ICT equipment for our Emergency Operations Centers.”
Ito aniya ay nakahanay sa isa sa kanilang 8-Point Action Agenda – Teknolohiya para sa mabilis na serbisyong pangkalusugan.
