Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 31) — The Department of Health is currently looking for ways to decontaminate personal protective equipment (PPE) so they could be reused by healthcare workers who are treating patients with COVID-19, a high ranking official said Monday.
Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario disclosed this during a televised briefing when asked about the DOH’s strategies to address the scarce supplies of PPE caused by COVID-19 outbreak. N95 masks, gowns, gloves are examples of PPE.
“Ito po’y kasama na sa pag-aaral ngayon ng Kagawaran ng Kalusugan,” Vergeire pointed out. “In fact, marami na pong nagrekomenda sa amin even people from PNRI na sinasabing may mga technology na pwedeng gamitin para ma-decontaminate ang ating mga PPE.”
[Translation: This is part of the studies being conducted by the Department of Health. In fact, many have recommended it to us, even by the people from PNRI, saying that we could decontaminate PPE using technology.] PNRI is the the Philippine Nuclear Research Institute.
Vergeire was referring to the cleaning method used by a team of researchers from the Duke University in North Carolina. The researchers published their procedure to help hospitals deal with the dwindling supplies of N95 respirator mask, an item critical in protecting frontline medical staff from contracting the virus, and helping them do their jobs with confidence. But typically they cannot be reused.
Duke researchers have said they decontaminated 500 pieces of N95 masks without damaging them using vaporized hydrogen peroxide, which is also used to sterilize medical instruments.
This sterilization process has reportedly been effective for decades, but not without hazards.
It must be done in a specialized laboratory, which could handle hydrogen peroxide vapor.
The faculty of the University of the Philippines Diliman’s College of Engineering is also developing a prototype cleaning chamber, based on ultraviolet light exposure, which will be used to disinfect PPE. The project is worth P600,000
Vergeire added the government is working with their partners from the private sector to address what she regarded as a “global shortage” of PPEs.
“Marami na pong ginagawa ang DOH ngayon na pakikipag partner sa iba ibang grupo especially in our private industry kung saan nagkakaroon na po ng efforts na magkaroon ng alternatives or options para sa ating mga masks, sa ating mga isusuot na aprons, ang gowns dahil nga po mayroon tayong global shortage.”
[Translation: There is this DOH initiative of partnering with other groups especially in the private industry to make alternatives to masks, aprons, gowns because we have a global shortage.]
The Philippines now has 1546 cases of the viral disease with 78 deaths and 42 recoveries.
Due to the rising number of COVID-19 cases in the country, the country’s healthcare system is being stretched thin as it scrambles to meet the needs of people sickened by the disease.
The health crisis has prompted hospitals to ask for donations for PPEs and other essential supplies. Ordinary individuals, businesspeople and researchers are pitching in and helping out to deal with the scarce supplies so frontliners could continue their fight against COVID-19.
