The We Heal As One Center - Ninoy Aquino Stadium discharged its first Covid-19 survivor on Monday, April 20, after the patient tested negative for the disease twice. This was announced by Manila City Mayor Isko Moreno Domagoso in his official Facebook Page.
The patient is a resident of Manila City and is the first one to be released from the quarantine facility. The We Heal As One Centers admit Covid-positive patients with mild or no symptoms.
“We’re happy that the patient has been discharged from the facility and can already go home and be with her family. We hope and pray to hear more news of recoveries soon. We also thank our brave frontliners from the Armed Forces of the Philippines Medical Corps who have been taking care of the patients here round-the-clock,” said Public Works and Highways Secretary Mark Villar.
“Right now, the government is very proactive in its strategy to ‘locate, isolate, and cure’ suspected and probable cases to save more lives and control the contagion. We are confident that we will see more recoveries in the comings days and weeks,” Presidential Adviser for Flagship Programs and Projects and BCDA President and CEO Vince Dizon said.
Leading the government's efforts in the establishment of We Heal As One Centers is National Task Force Covid-19 chief implementer and Presidential Peace Adviser Secretary Carlito Galvez, Jr., Health Secretary Francisco Duque III, Secretary Villar, Department of Public Works and Highways Task Force on Augmentation of Healthcare Facilities led by Undersecretary Emil Sadain, and Secretary Dizon.
The 112-bed Ninoy Aquino Stadium was finished in less than a week by private partners Prime BMD and Bloomberry Cultural Foundation, Inc. of the Razon Group. The government also partnered with the Villar Group and EEI Corp. in providing construction workers and beds for the facilities, as well as with the Boysen Philippines, Inc. in making the facilities color-coded for the protection of the medical staff.
The other We Heal As One Centers that are operational and ready to accept patients are the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) Forum Halls and World Trade Center in Pasay City, the ASEAN Convention Center in Clark, Pampanga, and the National Government Administrative Center and the Athletes’ Village in New Clark City, Capas, Tarlac.
Also to be completed soon are the Philippine Sports Arena or ULTRA in Pasig City, the Philippine Arena in Bulacan, and the Filinvest Tent in Muntinlupa.
Photo credit: Official Facebook Page of Manila City Mayor Isko Moreno