The city government of Mandaluyong today launched its own molecular diagnostic laboratory to make the city’s fight against the COVID-19 pandemic even more effective.
Mayor Menchie Abalos herself led the inauguration of the new facility located inside the National Center for Mental Health (NCMH). She was accompanied by the hospital’s Chief Professional Medical Staff Dr. Beverly Azucena, Department of Health-National Capital Region (DOH-NCR) Assistant Regional Director Dr. Paz Corrales, City Health Officer Dr. Alex Sta. Maria, and Mandaluyong City Medical Center (MCMC) Director Dr. Zaldy Carpeso.
Having the new diagnostic laboratory means there’s no more need to bring to the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM) and the National Institutes of Health, University of the Philippines Manila (UP-NIH) most of the samples that will come from the testing centers of the city government.
She added that many of the equipment in the laboratory was given to the city government by private institutions San Miguel Foundation and BDO Foundation. It will then be manned by medical personnel from the NCMH.
Mayor Abalos said the new laboratory wouldn’t be made possible without the support of all stakeholders in the city. “When the pandemic broke out, we didn’t know the process of putting up a facility like this. That’s why we were glad when NCMH offered its space and medical personnel.”
“The laboratory doesn’t just strengthen NCMH’s diagnostic capacity and services, it also helps Mandaluyong City to offer more services and serve more people. Dr. Azucena said they are honored to be associated in the city government’s newest effort.
For her part, Dr. Corrales said the diagnostic laboratory is sure to help the city government’s campaign against the ongoing pandemic especially now that the number of COVID-19 cases is rising again. “There is much needed RT-PCR testing now and this is a good response to reduce the rising number of cases.”
City Health Office Dr. Sta. Maria said that the molecular diagnostic laboratory will also serve as an additional laboratory for the MCMC. “It’s not solely for COVID-19 testing. We can later add other equipment so our hospitals can offer other laboratory tests once the pandemic dies down.”