CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, Philippines --- Xavier University - Ateneo de Cagayan is one with the rest of the country on the move to fight the spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19). Various units and departments of Xavier Ateneo had extended its arms to local volunteer groups and hospitals. Xavier Ateneo is set to institutionalize its response to the pandemic under the banner #XUKontraCOVID19.
Following the university-wide disinfection campaign which happened from March 15 to March 20, Xavier Ateneo Chemistry and Biology departments donated self-produced rubbing alcohol to the Northern Mindanao Medical Center (NMMC) last March 24, Tuesday.
The Biology department prepared 95% ethanol and the Chemistry department prepared 70% ethanol and 70% isopropyl alcohol from its absolute form. The production of the rubbing alcohol followed the standards set in the World Health Organization guidelines for hand rub alcohol formulation.
MAKING THE RUBBING ALCOHOL. Xavier University - Ateneo de Cagayan donates rubbing alcohol to the Northern Mindanao Medical Center. Photo by Renebelle Flores.
On the other hand, the Development Communications Department had been continually releasing infographics as part of its information drive on COVID-19. Using the local Cebuano language, the information drive aims to make a wider reach to locals in understanding the coronavirus pandemic.
The department and its corresponding organization, the Development Communications Society, release information from prompts and news of the Department of Health and other government agencies to city updates on the COVID-19 counts.
One of their outputs showcased the difference between person under monitoring (PUM) and person under investigation (PUI) in the local language.
Another unit which lent its arms to NMMC is the University Bookstore which released its total inventory of 117 glue sticks and 400 sheets of acetate to Oplan North Mindanao Frontliners on March 21 and March 23. Many of the volunteers of the group are Xavier Ateneo alumni and much of the donated supplies were paid for by them.
The CDO-based group had been active in creating and donating DIY face shields to frontliners and health personnel in response to the global pandemic. Xavier Ateneo, including its bookstore, had been on shutdown since March 18 and the volunteer group had been having a hard time pooling raw materials for their production.
The group's social media page contains instructions on the DIY face shields for those who are interested to help.
SOLDIERS AT WORK. Oplan North Mindanao Frontliners, with the donated materials, at Camp Evangelista to create the DIY face shields. Photo by Donna Ocampo.
Furthermore, other departments are also holding their own donation drives for the procurement of Personal Protective Equipments (PPEs) and basic necessities to those in need.∎