COVID-19 Response Effort

The health crisis we are facing with the Covid-19 pandemic posed high risks to communities at a global scale. Millions of people are affected not only in terms of health but also with livelihood, food security, waste management and education, among others.

Nature’s Spring Foundation, Inc. has always seen its pivotal role in contributing to the Covid-19 response efforts. We are here to give the best of our initiatives in filling in the gap and supporting the frontliners and the marginalized sectors.

The Environmental Frontliners, our Waste Collectors

With or without a health crisis, the waste collectors face many occupational risks every day. This includes exposure to health hazards such as the Covid-19 just to make sure that our wastes are managed properly. We may not often see them in the spotlight from the news, they work around the clock behind the scenes and serve as one of the frontliners for the environment.

The foundation has always regarded the waste collectors as one of its priority. Hence, we provided hygiene kits and grocery items in the form of gift checks to the 294 waste collectors from all of the barangays in Mandaue City on April 17-21, 2020.

Nature’s Spring Foundation, Inc. tapped the Colonnade Supermarket to allow them to purchase grocery and hygiene items only at a discounted price. Each waste collector received a total of 700 pesos, with a 500-peso worth of grocery items and a 200-peso worth of hygiene kits that will aid them in the everyday needs of their respective families and work in the midst of this health crisis. The gift checks have no expiry date and considered as a cash payment when buying items at the nearest Colonnade supermarket in Mandaue City.

The Environmental Frontliners, our Waste Collectors

With or without a health crisis, the waste collectors face many occupational risks every day. This includes exposure to health hazards such as the Covid-19 just to make sure that our wastes are managed properly. We may not often see them in the spotlight from the news, they work around the clock behind the scenes and serve as one of the frontliners for the environment.

The foundation has always regarded the waste collectors as one of its priority. Hence, we provided hygiene kits and grocery items in the form of gift checks to the 294 waste collectors from all of the barangays in Mandaue City on April 17-21, 2020.

Nature’s Spring Foundation, Inc. tapped the Colonnade Supermarket to allow them to purchase grocery and hygiene items only at a discounted price. Each waste collector received a total of 700 pesos, with a 500-peso worth of grocery items and a 200-peso worth of hygiene kits that will aid them in the everyday needs of their respective families and work in the midst of this health crisis. The gift checks have no expiry date and considered as a cash payment when buying items at the nearest Colonnade supermarket in Mandaue City.

NSFI donates PPEs to Public, Private Hospitals in VisMin

Through the partnership with the University of the Philippines Medical Alumni Society or UP MAS, Nature’s Spring Foundation, Inc. has granted 2 million pesos worth of Personal Protective Equipment to the hospitals, medical centers and other frontline institutions including correctional facilities and barangay/municipal Covid-19 centers in the Visayas and Mindanao areas.

According to Dr. Arcelin Piramide, focal person from UP MAS, at least 20 hospitals and other frontline groups in the areas of Cebu, Siquijor, Bohol, Ozamis City, Iligan City and Butuan City were already distributed with PPEs to date.

These hospitals and centers catered to Covid-19 related patients (confirmed or suspected cases) and expressed a shortage of isolation gowns, taffeta jumpsuits, gloves, boots, face shields, goggles, KN95 masks, surgical masks and gallons of alcohol. Nature’s Spring Foundation, Inc. and UP Mas has also provided Covid-19 mobile hotline phones to barangays with rising Covid-19 cases.

The initiative of UP MAS has also paved way for the other private sectors to donate quality Personal Protective Equipment in the other hospitals and centers nationwide. The group is also set to deliver more PPEs in the other areas of the country.

NSFI donates PPEs to Public, Private Hospitals in VisMin

Through the partnership with the University of the Philippines Medical Alumni Society or UP MAS, Nature’s Spring Foundation, Inc. has granted 2 million pesos worth of Personal Protective Equipment to the hospitals, medical centers and other frontline institutions including correctional facilities and barangay/municipal Covid-19 centers in the Visayas and Mindanao areas.

According to Dr. Arcelin Piramide, focal person from UP MAS, at least 20 hospitals and other frontline groups in the areas of Cebu, Siquijor, Bohol, Ozamis City, Iligan City and Butuan City were already distributed with PPEs to date.

These hospitals and centers catered to Covid-19 related patients (confirmed or suspected cases) and expressed a shortage of isolation gowns, taffeta jumpsuits, gloves, boots, face shields, goggles, KN95 masks, surgical masks and gallons of alcohol. Nature’s Spring Foundation, Inc. and UP Mas has also provided Covid-19 mobile hotline phones to barangays with rising Covid-19 cases.

The initiative of UP MAS has also paved way for the other private sectors to donate quality Personal Protective Equipment in the other hospitals and centers nationwide. The group is also set to deliver more PPEs in the other areas of the country.

NSFI grants equipment to proposed Molecular Lab for Covid-19

As a commitment to the Covid-19 response strategies for early detection, Nature’s Spring Foundation, Inc. turned over a total amount of 800,000 pesos to the Philippine Red Cross – Cebu Chapter for the donation of a Polymerase Chain Reaction or PCR Machine as contribution to the establishment a Molecular Laboratory that will cater to Covid-19 testing in the Visayas area.

PCR is a type of Covid-19 test kit that will use nasopharyngeal swap samples in detecting the RNA strains of the SarS-CoV-2 virus earlier before the antibodies or the symptoms of the disease appear. According to the Philippine Red Cross – Cebu Chapter team, the issuance of the results is between 48 to 36 hours. The lab will follow an online system for a real-time forwarding of data to its headquarters.

The lab will also conduct rapid anti-body tests to a person prior to conducting a PCR test. It is expected to cater suspected cases in the Cebu area and its neighboring provinces. It will be the second laboratory in the region next to the Vicente Sotto Medical Memorial Center which will cater Covid-19 tests.

The lab, which will start operations by the third week of June 2020, is one of the 12 Molecular Laboratories that the Philippine Red Cross will put up in the entire country. These mobile facilities will not only cater Covid-19 tests but also offers tests for SARS, Dengue and HIV with the latter being one of the most prevalent cases in the province.

NSFI grants equipment to proposed Molecular Lab for Covid-19

As a commitment to the Covid-19 response strategies for early detection, Nature’s Spring Foundation, Inc. turned over a total amount of 800,000 pesos to the Philippine Red Cross – Cebu Chapter for the donation of a Polymerase Chain Reaction or PCR Machine as contribution to the establishment a Molecular Laboratory that will cater to Covid-19 testing in the Visayas area.

PCR is a type of Covid-19 test kit that will use nasopharyngeal swap samples in detecting the RNA strains of the SarS-CoV-2 virus earlier before the antibodies or the symptoms of the disease appear. According to the Philippine Red Cross – Cebu Chapter team, the issuance of the results is between 48 to 36 hours. The lab will follow an online system for a real-time forwarding of data to its headquarters.

The lab will also conduct rapid anti-body tests to a person prior to conducting a PCR test. It is expected to cater suspected cases in the Cebu area and its neighboring provinces. It will be the second laboratory in the region next to the Vicente Sotto Medical Memorial Center which will cater Covid-19 tests.

The lab, which will start operations by the third week of June 2020, is one of the 12 Molecular Laboratories that the Philippine Red Cross will put up in the entire country. These mobile facilities will not only cater Covid-19 tests but also offers tests for SARS, Dengue and HIV with the latter being one of the most prevalent cases in the province.