The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) donated one (1) unit of portable swabbing booth to Jose B. Lingad Memorial Hospital in San Fernando, Pampanga.
Secretary Mark A. Villar said that the donated swabbing booth with capability to test two (2) persons simultaneously was manufactured by the DPWH Bureau of Equipment (BOE) headed by Director Toribio Noel Ilao and delivered to the hospital in Central Luzon on May 30, 2020.
In his report to Secretary Villar, Undersecretary for Unified Project Management Office (UPMO) Operations and Technical Services and head of DPWH Task Force to Facilitate Augmentation of Health Facility Emil K. Sadain said that the swabbing booth received by Dr. Alfonso Danac representing DOH Assistant Secretary Leonita P. Gorgolon is equipped with safety features that would minimize actual physical contact of healthcare workers undertaking the testing procedure with the person being examined.
It has infection control feature to protect patients and healthcare workers with complete mechanical exhaust system and negative pressure room, which prevents cross contamination between rooms, added Sadain.
Jose B. Lingad Memorial General Hospital is among the designated health facilities of the Department of Health with capabilities to admit and manage those with symptoms and confirmed COVID-19 patients.
The donated test chamber will minimize the risk of health workers' exposure when taking swab samples, said Secretary Villar.
DPWH in early May 2020 has also donated portable swabbing booth at Quezon Institute in E. Rodriguez, Quezon City.