The Municipal Health Officer (MHO) of Dauis town refuses to divulge who from the Provincial Health Office (PHO) ordered the burial of a mild acute respiratory infection (MARI) patient.
Dr. Joni Co, in a radio interview over Open Forum this noontime, Monday, May 18, refused to name the official in the PHO that ordered the MHO to immediately bury the MARI patient after the death.
The patient died last May 8, according to Co and was buried within 12 hours.
It was not clear if whether a MARI patient is included or not in the protocol where there is a need to bury the human remains within 12 hours.
In the same interview, Co said the fatality is from barangay Bingag, Dauis.
Moreover, she said that the PHO just informed her that a MARI patient from Dauis died and that the body had to be buried immediately.
Further, she stated that there was no embalming involved and the relatives were not allowed to observe a day or two for the traditional wake as practiced.
Under the protocols by the Department of Health (DoH) and the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) a patient classified as severe acute respiratory infection (SARI) is buried within 12 hours.
Also, Co said she was informed that the protocols in handling of the cadaver were observed.
However, she admitted in the same interview that she doesn’t know if the patient was subjected to a swab test for Covid infection as it is something that the Gov. Celestino Gallares Memorial Hospital (GCGMH) facilitates. She added that no information of this matter (regarding the COVID testing) was relayed to her. She said that she has yet to receive some words on the test results.