Some 2,536 medical workers and other healthcare front-liners in Makati have each received wellness kits from the city government.

Makati Mayor Abigail Binay said the initiative is part of the city government’s tribute to the sacrifices of the healthcare workers and medical front-liners amid the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic.

“Through these wellness kits, we aim to send a message of thanks to our medical front-liners,” Binay said. “We want to show them that we care and we treasure them. We gratefully attribute to their tireless efforts and contributions to the effectiveness of our Covid-19 response.”

According to the city government, the wellness kit contains grocery items, a juice box with a reusable tumbler, one dozen original glazed flavored donuts, and a food voucher worth 500 pesos.

Recipients of the wellness package are working at the Makati Health Department (MHD), Ospital ng Makati (OsMak), and Incident Command Post (ICP).

The city government started the initial distribution of wellness kits on Dec.16, through the Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (DRRMO) and Human Resource Development Office (HRDO).

Binay said the city government organized an exclusive schedule of distribution per department, in consideration of the safety and convenience of the front-liners.

The city government has been providing substantial and strategic support for the city’s essential workers since the beginning of the health crisis in March.

It has also been providing adequate personal protective equipment, hazard pay, free shuttle services, vitamins, free flu, and pneumonia vaccination, and free mass testing for the health workers.

It also approved a salary increase for nurses and the hiring of additional health workers for the city. (PNA)