To survive epidemics or pandemics caused by emerging and re-emerging diseases such as the novel Coronavirus or 2019-nCoV, Senator Dick Gordon has proposed the stockpiling of strategic medical supplies to ensure adequate supply in the country.
Gordon, chairman and CEO of the Philippine Red Cross (PRC), said the government could also encourage local investors to venture into the production of medical supplies such as face masks, medical gowns and other protective gear to ensure that the high demand for them, during public health emergencies, will be met.
“This is to ensure that there would be adequate supply of food, medicine, vaccines and other necessary supplies to tide them over until the emergency ends.”
“Other countries, like the United States, spend billions for a secret stockpile of supplies, food, medicines, and vaccines, among others. This is to ensure that there would be adequate supply of food, medicine, vaccines and other necessary supplies to tide them over until the emergency ends,” the veteran legislator said during a committee hearing on the 2019-nCoV threat.
“We should also invest in warehouses in strategic areas across the country.”
“We should also invest in warehouses in strategic areas across the country where they could be prepositioned,” the seasoned lawmaker added.
The Red Cross maintains warehouses in different parts of the country where stockpiles of food and non-food items such as face masks, gloves, other personal protective gear, sleeping kits and hygiene kits, among others, along with response vehicles are prepositioned for easier mobilization.
“Ang Red Cross, may mga warehouses sa iba’t ibang panig ng bansa gaya ng Cebu; Passi, Iloilo; Ilocos; Subic; Cagayan; dito sa NCR (National Capital Region) at iba pang lalawigan. May mga response vehicles na kami sa mga ‘yun, gaya ng rescue truck, pay loader, at iba pa; pati mga supplies para mabilis kaming makapagresponde kapag may mga kalamidad dahil naniniwala kami na volunteers plus logistics plus information technology equals a Red Cross that is always first, always ready and always there!” the senator said.