CATBALOGAN CITY- Dr. Marilyn D. Cardoso, University President, accepted the invitation of Mr. Raul Velarde from Star Radio Catbalogan to be their segment’s guest on Monday, March 30.
Star Radio Catbalogan is one of the inter-agency task forces of the city as a news media entity airing through radio live streaming.
Dr. Cardoso enumerated the initiatives done by Samar State University (SSU) to combat the pandemic virus and told the listeners the steps the University has been doing since the scare took place.
“When the classes were suspended, I talked with the faculty members through their Deans on what they can do to contribute to the solution of this challenge, and they have agreed on certain ways on how they can use their respective expertise to help the community in whatever way possible. We can’t just wait for other people to find a solution for us, we need to be part of the solution,” Dr. Cardoso said.
Mr. Velarde, then, commented on the production of hand sanitizer and alcohol saying that it is ‘very impressive’ knowing that a wide range of beneficiaries has already been given with these hand hygiene products made by SSU faculty-researchers.
“Ma’am, can you enlighten us about the qPCR (quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction) machine? Could it really be used for COVID testing?” Mr. Velarde asked.
Dr. Cardoso answered that SSU has already expressed its willingness to help for expanded COVID-19 testing, however, there is a protocol to be followed.
“Actually, the qPCR was intended for genomic researches, but with the outbreak of COVID-19, we informed the concerned authorities that we have qPCR capable of screening samples, but we need to follow the protocol,” she explained.
When asked of the reason why SSU is doing the initiative to help, Dr. Cardoso immediately responded that ‘it is already a culture in the University’.
“We are trying to practice the culture of innovation, building, and service. It just naturally comes out when the situation demands – ‘in what way can we help or serve?’ We cannot solve the problem on our own, we must help each other. We must be united. That is why we do what we are doing because we cannot solve the problem if we are just going to look at how we can free ourselves. It is supposed to be one nation, one world, and we will be able to solve this problem,” Dr. Cardoso emphasized.
Dr. Cardoso also shared with the listeners that a group of faculty-researchers is teamed up to take the challenge of inventing a mobile sanitation chamber using no chemicals as suggested by our CHED officials.
When asked of her message to the public, Dr. Cardoso reminded everyone not to panic and to follow the authorities.
“We should not panic. Our actions must be based on true, useful information. I request everyone to follow our authorities because they know better. Let’s set aside the discomforts we are experiencing and let us not be part of the problem, but of the solution. Let us all be safe,” Dr. Cardoso stated.
Mr. Velarde ended his talk with the President by expressing his gratitude to the University for being a proactive partner-institution of the government in winning over this pandemic virus.
#SSUBantayCOVID-19