The Philippine National Police (PNP) has mobilized around 3,000 police officers with medical background for deployment in Metro Manila to help healthcare frontliners in hospitals that are swamped with coronavirus patients, PNP chief Gen. Archie Gamboa said yesterday.
Gamboa shared the police officers are assigned in various units across the country and are ready to augment hospitals in Metro Manila that are experiencing a surge in COVID-19 patients.
The police officers selected to be assigned in various Metro Manila hospitals and health facilities have degrees in medical-related courses such as nursing, medical technology and radiology. Gamboa earlier said the policemen would undergo reorientation for one week before they are deployed in hospitals.
This is in response to President Duterte’s directive to augment hospitals full with COVID-19 patients. The mobilisation of qualified men in uniform will somehow ease the manpower problems of Metro Manila hospitals who are now overwhelmed with the increasing number of patients affected by COVID-19.
Gamboa highlighted the capabilities of their personnel in helping the government’s contact tracing efforts to locate COVID-19 patients and their close contacts. According to Gamboa, policemen have cognitive investigative skills unlike other individuals which can help elicit information from people infected with COVID-19.
With additional reports: The Philippine Star, Emmanuel Tupas
Photo Sources: pna.gov.ph, facebook – PNP Chief Archie Gamboa, officialgazette.gov.ph
