HEALTH KITS FOR ALL. Volunteers repack health kits from the local government for all families in Catbalogan City, Samar. Each kit has 60 tablets ascorbic acid (500 milligrams), 30 tablets of paracetamol (500mg), two bottles of ascorbic acid + zinc sulfate syrup for children, a bottle of paracetamol suspension for infants, a bottle of alcohol (500 ml), and washable face masks. (Photo courtesy of Mayor Dexter Uy)

TACLOBAN CITY – The city government of Catbalogan in Samar is now preparing to distribute health kits to more than 30,000 families in the city in its effort to contain the spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19).

Mayor Dexter Uy said in a statement on Wednesday that all families in 57 villages will receive Covid-19 family health kits.

Each kit has 60 tablets ascorbic acid (500 milligrams), 30 tablets of paracetamol (500mg), two bottles of ascorbic acid + zinc sulfate syrup for children, a bottle of paracetamol suspension for infants, a bottle of alcohol (500 ml), and washable face masks.

Community facilitators, daycare workers, and volunteers assigned at the Catbalogan city social welfare and development office (CSWDO) have been preparing the Covid-19 family health kits.

“The distribution of health kits for all is our priority because we believe that prevention is better than cure,” Uy said.

As of Wednesday, the city has no active Covid-19 case after the region’s 14th patient from the city tested negative of coronavirus in two swab testing as reported by the health department on Monday.

The patient caught the virus in Tarangnan, Samar where she works as administrative staff. Although she’s already out of the hospital, she has to undergo a strict 14-day home quarantine.

The patient’s immediate family members also tested negative of the virus. They have been discharged from the city’s special care facility.

Catbalogan, the capital of Samar province, is home to over 104,000 people. The city is about 112 kilometers north of Tacloban City, the regional capital of Eastern Visayas. (PNA)