MANILA – National Action Plan Against COVID-19 Chief Implementer Secretary Carlito Galvez, Jr. said they have received calls from concerned survivors and their respective families on what to do with the stigma they face in their communities and workplace.
Speaking at the Malacañang Press Briefing hosted by Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque, Secretary Galvez, who also acts as Vaccine Czar, said there recovered COVID-19 patients who experience nervous breakdown because they didn’t know what to do.
“There have been suicide cases and we look at it as a serious problem,” Secretary Galvez said. He added they have included it in the National Action Plan will have an elaborate program as part of social healing and mental care.
He said there are families who are at a loss on what to do when someone gets the COVID-19 virus and even when they have fully recovered. Secretary Galvez added they already talked with experts to help them craft the program.
For his part, Secretary Roque said the program will be part of the reintegration plan.
As of 4:00 P.M., Thursday, the total COVID-19 cases rose further to 1,028,738 as 8,276 new cases were reported. The same report disclosed 6,636 recovered while 114 succumbed to the virus.
The total active cases rose to 69,354 or 6.7%, while those who recovered reached 942,239 or 91.6%. The fatalities reached 17,145 or 1.67% of the total numbers.
The new program for COVID-19 recovered persons is expected to address both medical and psychosocial concerns of both the previous patients and their respective families. (Melo M. Acuña)
NAP Chief Implementer Secretary Carlito Galvez, Jr. and Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque. (Screen grab from Presidential Briefing, April 29,2021/Melo M. Acuna)
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