Mayor Sara brushes off misconceptions on Covid swab test

Davao City Mayor Inday Sara Duterte has called on Dabawenyos to trust medical doctors as she brushed aside misconceptions and fears that getting tested or swabbed for the coronavirus is painful.

Addressing Dabawenyos over Davao City Disaster Radio on Friday, June 26, 2020, Mayor Sara said she respects people practicing some traditional cures or home remedies for some diseases but people still need to follow medical advice to prevent contracting the coronavirus disease.

“Magremind lang ko sa tanan natong mga kaigsuonang Dabawenyo na siguro, yes naa ta’y mga atoang tinuhoan, but sundon pud gihapon nato kung unsa tong giingon sa World Health Organization, giingon sa Department of Health na kinahanglan nato buhaton (I just want to remind the Dabawenyos that yes we have our own beliefs but we must still follow the recommendations from the World Health Organization and the Department of Health on what needs to be done),” she said.

Mayor Sara said the people must not be afraid of getting tested but they need to trust the medical doctors like epidemiologists and infectious disease specialists as they are experts in this field.

She added that one must follow the doctors’ recommendations first and just follow their own beliefs if they experience symptoms of the coronavirus disease.

“Kung duna ta’y gibati, muduol ta para ma-testing ta and I think mas maayo kung and doktor mismo ang musulti sa atoa unsa atoang kinahanglan buhaton, unsa imohang tambal, asa ka padulong…and then we can add on ang atong mga tinuhoan nato – atong mga herbal na mga tambal. Always with the permission sa atoang mga medical doctors… (If we experience symptoms, let us seek medical advice. I think the doctors must be the one telling us what to do, what medications to take, where to go, then we can just add our self-prescriptions or own beliefs like taking herbal medicines. Just ask permission from the doctors first),” she stressed.

Mayor Sara said that a person experiencing symptoms like cough, colds, fever, sore throat, and diarrhea should approach the local government or visit the Southern Philippines Medical Center (SPMC) – the official Covid-19 hospital in the city for testing and advice. CIO