XAVIER University -Ateneo de Cagayan is one with the rest of the country on the move to fight the spread of the 2019 novel coronavirus disease. Various XU units and departments have extended their arms to local volunteer groups and hospitals. The university is set to institutionalize its response to the pandemic under the banner #XUKontraCOVID19.
Following the university-wide disinfection campaign which happened recently, XU Chemistry and Biology departments donated self-produced rubbing alcohol to the Northern Mindanao Medical Center (NMMC) on March 24.
The Biology department prepared 95 percent ethanol and the Chemistry department prepared 70 percent ethanol and 70 percent 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.
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 a person under monitoring (PUM) and a person under investigation (PUI) in the local language.
Another unit that 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 recently. Many of the volunteers of the group are XU alumni and much of the donated supplies were paid for by them.
The CDO-based group had been active in creating and donating do-it-yourself face shields to frontliners and health personnel in response to the global pandemic. XU, including its bookstore, had been on shut down 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 do-it-yourself face shields for those who are interested to help.
Other departments are also holding their own donation drives for the procurement of Personal Protective Equipments and basic necessities to those in need. (xu.edu.ph)
