SU provides temporary shelter for hospital staff
Silliman University (SU) continues to support efforts in the fight against COVID 19, this time providing a temporary housing facility for Silliman University Medical Center (SUMC) hospital’s staff living outside Dumaguete City.
Dr. Betty Cernol-McCann, SU president disclosed that Vernon Hall, a regular dormitory of the University, is now used temporarily by these hospital staff after their duty instead of experiencing the difficulty in going home and reporting back to work with the implementation of the Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ).
A total of 58 beds have been made available and there are currently about 10-12 nurses temporarily staying in Vernon Hall since April 6, 2020. The healthcare staff’s stay will depend on when the ECQ will be lifted.
Dr. McCann assured the community that those staying at Vernon Hall are healthcare staff not exposed to persons under investigation (PUI) and persons under monitoring (PUM).
Roberto Montebon, SUMC Foundation Inc. president said “We thank Silliman University for responding to our request to allow us to use Vernon Hall as a place where our staff can be temporarily housed in a convenient, safe, and secure place so that they can be ready always to be at the frontlines in this war against Covid-19. This is important because healthcare workers at the forefront of this pandemic need to be supported even as they keep their enthusiasm and energy to protect the community and the public. Many cities have responded to this global situation by providing dormitories, hotels, gymnasiums, etc. as temporary housing facilities to healthcare workers for free. We are grateful that SU responded to our call.”
SUMCFI housekeeping staff are now assigned to do regular cleaning at Vernon Hall in coordination with the dormitory manager.
Earlier, the University’s College of Nursing, Civic Welfare Training Service with the Office of Community Engagement and Service-Learning, and Nutrition and Dietetics Department distributed face masks and face shields to frontliners in Dumaguete City.
The University’s Chemistry Department also produced ethyl alcohol sanitizers that were distributed to medical frontliners to help in addressing the shortage of disinfectants in the market.
