The Inbox – Fri, Nov 21, 2014
By Ellen T. Tordesillas
I’m staggered by the justifications of Health Acting Secretary Janet Garin and Armed Forces Chief Malacañang of their visit to the quarantined peacekeepers in Caballo Island in Cavite which Malacañang approves.
Garin and Catapang have drawn flak for what many see as violation of the idea of quarantine.
The peacekeepers from Ebola-stricken Liberia are on 21-day quarantine, an international procedure to prevent the deadly virus from spreading.
More than 5,000 have died from Ebola which is raging in West African countries notably Liberia, Sierra Leone, and Guinea. Several cases of the disease manifesting after persons, mostly health workers ,from West Africa have returned to their countries like the United States.
Garin and Catapang went to Caballo Island Sunday (Nov. 16), with a photographer, not wearing Personal Protective Equipment.
Anthony Leachon, president of the Philippine College of Physicians said, ““It was a breach of protocol — quarantine is an enforced isolation during the 21-day incubation period†of the virus.â€
Leachon said the visit of the two officials in Caballo Island “sends a wrong signal†as the DOH and medical and health organizations embark on an intensive information campaign on precautionary measures to prevent the spread of Ebola, in case it comes to the country.
Garin said she went there to make sure that the peacekeepers were provided with proper facilities and medical treatment while on quarantine.
She is that hands-on?
A good executive would be able to accomplish that objective without personally going there. In this age of mobile phones, a personal visit to the island is unnecessary.
But of course, if she didn’t go there, she and Catapang would not be in the news.
They need to be in the news as preparation for their 2016 election agenda.
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