June 2, 2021 – As COVID -19 cases were increasing in Tuguegarao City in April 2021, hospitals and quarantine facilities were overwhelmed with patients. With the continuous rise of COVID-19 cases, SPUP School of Medicine (SOM) collaborated with the Tuguegarao City Health Office (CHO) and initiated an undertaking to assist the COVID-19 patients in the City. SPUP Medical students, composed of second year to fourth year medical students, with the supervision of Medical Professors, who are also faculty members of SPUP School of Medicine, volunteered to monitor COVID-19 patients who are home quarantined via text/SMS or video call through messenger. They also referred to CHO those who progressed to moderate cases for hospital admission.
To date, the volunteers served 1,327 (and still rising) COVID-19 patients through constant monitoring. The patients were also treated and given free medicines and vitamins depending on their needs. Moreover, SPUP’s Medical Professors, led by Dr. Geraldine Ramirez (Dean, School of Medicine), are also assisting in the ongoing citywide vaccination program.
Hon. Jefferson Soriano (City Mayor of Tuguegarao) acknowledged the contribution and volunteerism of the students and professors of SPUP School of Medicine, who aside from conducting and attending to their online classes, they set aside some time to be of help and practice their social responsibility to the community, especially in Tuguegarao City.
