DOH did 'very well' in its COVID-19 response, says Duque

The Department of Health (DOH) did very well in its COVID-19 pandemic response despite the country’s limited resources, said Secretary Francisco Duque IIII said.

“Hindi ko sasabihin na we did very good or we did excellently. Sa akin, we did very well given our limitations…given our resources. Both capital and human resources,” Duque said in the latest episode of The Mangahas Interviews.

(I won’t say that we did very good or that we did excellently. For me, we did very well given our limitations…given our resources. Both capital and human resources.)

If the assessment will be based on statistics, Duque said the Philippines’ COVID-19 programs fared well compared to the response of first-world countries like the United States (US) and G20 member-states.

Duque stressed that despite being a “small, middle-income country”, the Philippine government was able to control its cases and successfully roll out its nationwide vaccination project.

“Hindi naman tayo parang America na mayaman…militarily superior… may research and development… may scientific advancements. Lahat ng sasabihin mong nasa kanila na pero bilangin mo ilan ang namatay sa kanila. Sa America 1-million…sa UK, daang-libo ang nadale,” he said.

(We’re not like America that is militarily superior… has research and development, scientific advancements.. basically anything you can think of. But look at their fatalities. In America, there are 1-million.. in the UK, hundred thousands have died.)

“Tayo na maliit na bansa, middle income country, kulang sa pondo [pero] kahit papaano we were able to control to keep our fatality rate at least mababa. Ang cases natin ngayon 2,600 plus — minimal. Hindi naging totoo ang projection. Napalawig natin ang ating health system capacity to prevent, detect, isolate, treat, reintegrate and vaccinate,” said Duque.

(We’re a small, middle-income country but we were able to keep our fatality rate at a low. Our present cases are at 2,6000 plus — minimal. We were able to beat the projection. We were able to widen our health system capacity from prevent, detect, isolate, treat, reintegrate and vaccinate.)

‘Yung ating vaccination trajectory, okay naman. 77 percent tayo ng total population but 90 percent of our adjusted target na 77-million Filipinos. So tingin ko, we did very well,” he added.

(As for the vaccination trajectory, we’re doing okay. We’re now at 77 percent of the total population but at 90 percent of our adjusted target of 77-million Filipinos. So for me, we did very well.)

As of June 10, the DOH logged 287 new COVID-19 cases bringing the nationwide COVID-19 tally to 3,692,617. Of the numbers, 2,529 are active cases. The total recoveries was reported at 3,629,459 while the death toll was at 60,461.

The Philippines is also continuously rolling out its vaccination program with a total of 151, 648, 537 administered vaccine doses as of June 4. Of which 69, 946, 046 individuals have completed their vaccines while 67, 263, 949 are awaiting their second dose.

A total of 14,438,542 have received their booster shots.

Further, Duque recognized the role of healthcare workers in the COVID-19 situation saying the government owed the improving health situation to their sacrifices.

“Whatever credit that goes to the government must go  to our healthcare workers, to our partners, to our experts, scientists…lahat po na talagang tumugon at nakiisa sa laban na ito under na rin ng whole-of-government, whole of society and whole of systems,” he said.

(Whatever credit that goes to the government must go  to our healthcare workers, to our partners, to our experts, scientists…to everyone who helped under the whole-of-government, whole of society and whole of systems.) -- BAP, GMA News