By Froilan Gallardo
Special Correspondent
THE Department of Health in Northern Mindanao has given out the Special Release Allowance (SRA) averting a mass resignation of nurses in hospitals caring for Covid-19 patients.
DOH-10 Director Jose Llacuna said the money was already released to the JR Borja General Hospital and Northern Mindanao Medical Center (NMMC) in Cagayan de Oro where nurses were threatening to resign out of sheer exhaustion and meager pay.
Llacuna said the SRA funds would also include nurses in private hospitals who are caring for the Covid-19 cases in Northern Mindanao.
“All the private hospitals would do is bill the DOH and prepare the receipts,” Llacuna said during a press briefing last Saturday.
Mayor Oscar Moreno confirmed that the JR Borja General Hospital have already received P9 million in SRA funds last week.
This city’s 2nd District Representative and Deputy Speaker Rufus Rodriguez said Health Secretary Francisco Duque released the money during the hearing of the House Committee on the deficiencies of the DOH handling of P6.3 billion funds.
“I appeal to the nurses not to resign and not gave up their oath,” Rodriguez said.
Nurses from JR Borja General Hospital and the NMMC have air threats of resigning to news reporters complaining of sheer exhaustion and meager pay.
At the NMMC, nurses said the hospital administration is planning to open to more floors for Covid-19 cases without hiring new nurses for them.
“We are already burdened by too many tasks. One day I have to tend to 20 Covid-19 patients alone because my fellow nurses have gone absent,” “Pam,” a nurse said.
“Pam,” said many nurses have already opted to resign and stay at home to tend to their family and children.
Rodriguez said the DOH has promised to look after the hiring of more nurses during the congressional hearing.
