Gov’t plans social, mental care program for COVID-19 survivors —Galvez

The government is planning to create an after-care program that focuses on the mental care and social healing of COVID-19 survivors amid stigma against those affected by the disease.

This was announced by National Task Force against COVID-19 chief implementer Carlito Galvez Jr. in a Palace briefing Thursday.

“Plano po natin sa National Action Plan ang after care ng COVID-19 [survivors] kasi nakita po talaga natin ang stigma sa COVID-19 napakataas,” he said.

(We are planning to add to the National Action Plan the after-care for COVID-19 survivors because we really observed a lot of stigma against COVID-19.)

“Maraming tumatawag po sa atin pami-pamilya nagbe-break down. Also there are many cases also na may mga suicide cases and this is a very serious problem,” he added.

(There are families calling us and they are breaking down. There are also many cases of suicide and this is a very serious problem.)

The national task force has talked to experts to explore and elaborate the “social healing and mental care” program, Galvez said.

Although he said there is a “reintegration program” in place for COVID-19 survivors, Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque  said that the matter will be discussed by the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Disease.

On Thursday, the Philippines recorded 8,276 new COVID-19 cases, bringing the total tally to 1,028,738.

Meanwhile, total recoveries climbed to 942,239 with 6,636 new ones while 114 new fatalities brought the death toll to 17,145. — BM, GMA News