Benguet molecular lab operational by October

OPERATION of the molecular laboratory at Benguet General Hospital (BeGH) is eyed next month, as it seeks to boost the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) testing capacity of Benguet province.

Officials from Benguet, Department of Health (DOH)-Cordillera, personnel from BeGH and legislative caretaker Eric Go Yap spearheaded over the weekend the unveiling of the molecular laboratory building signage and marker, cutting of ribbon ceremony, and the blessing of the laboratory.

Machines and equipment needed for the laboratory is still undergoing procurement.

Yap asked Benguet officials to test not only Benguet residents but also from neighboring provinces in Cordillera once the laboratory is fully functional.

Dr. Ruby Constantino, DOH regional director, and Governor Melchor Diclas said the molecular laboratory help the province and Cordillera region, because it will decongest the number of laboratory specimen that Baguio General Hospital and Medical Center (BGHMC) can be testing.

BGHMC was declared as one of the sub-national testing laboratories for Luzon catering to Cordillera, Ilocos and Cagayan Valley.

Dr. Meliarazon Dulay, BeGH acting chief of hospital, said medical technologists started their training at the BGHMC in preparation for the opening of the laboratory.

Last May, Yap donated Covid-19 equipment to BeGH, including the RT-PCR machine, automated extraction machines and consumables.

The RT-PCR and automated machines with consumables were loaned to BGHMC following the signing of a memorandum of agreement for the urgent need to speed up the release of swab test results from different parts of Northern Luzon, which resulted in the significant reduction in the period to release Covid-19 results.

Under the MOA, the machines will be turned over to BGHMC but it must prioritize specimens coming from Benguet.

On Saturday, September 12, Yap announced he will instead buy new machines for the province and donate the equipment to BGHMC.

Also present during the unveiling of the molecular laboratory building signage and marker, cutting of ribbon and blessing of the laboratory was DOH-Cordillera Assistant Director Dr. Amelita Pangilinan, La Trinidad Mayor Romeo Salda and Vice Mayor Roderick Awingan.