CamSur mayor doubles as doctor due to shortage of health workers amid COVID-19 threat

The mayor of San Jose, Camarines Sur has been working double-duty as a doctor due to a shortage of rural health workers.

In an interview on Super Radyo dzBB on Tuesday, Mayor Marco Chavez said several staff members at the rural health unit had to go into quarantine after one of them tested positive for the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

"Kailangan ko pong kumilos bilang isang doctor at tumulong kung anumang puwedeng maitulong ko,"he said.

Chavez stressed that it remains his duty to provide medical help to those in need, whether it was attending to patients or overseeing the activities of the LGU.

"Yan po ang sinumpaan kong tungkulin, kaya gagampanan ko po na maproteksyonan ko po ang aming bayan."

According to Chavez, there has been one person in San Jose who recently tested positive for COVID-19.

He has ordered the lockdown of the barangay where another case was reported, as well as to contact trace the patient's family members and close contacts.

Chavez is currently looking for volunteer health workers and possible assistance from the government.

"Kung sino po 'yung may natapos na po na health profession, pwede rin pong tumulong sa'min. Malaking tulong po 'yun."

Chavez also took the opportunity to thank the public for their compliance and remind them to keep safety protocols.

"Thank you po sa lahat ng aking mga kababayan, ang masasabi ko lang po, sunod lang po tayo sa mga ipinaguutos ng ating gobyerono social distancing ang pagsuot ng face mask, ang paghugas ng kamay." — Margaret Claire Layug/LA, GMA News