TDM Sisters house medical personnel amid Covid-19 scare

For almost a month now, the Teresian Daughters of Mary (TDM) Sisters have been housing medical personnel as the country is facing the Covid-19 pandemic.

In an interview with DCHerald, Sr. Teresita Salang, TDM, the superior of the congregation said that with the blessing of Archbishop of Davao Romulo G. Valles, the congregation has been taking care of the medical personnel since April 1.

She said that after hearing their plight on where to stay, fearing they might infect their family members since they are working in the hospital, the congregation has agreed to house the nurses working in the Southern Philippines Medical Center.

Sr. Salang offered their retreat house which can house up to 48 individuals but as of now, there are only 27 nurses who are staying as there are some who will be immediately pulled out and transferred once they are exposed to possible Covid-19 patients.

She said that the nurses are allowed to use their air-conditioned rooms, bathrooms and dining area for free, adding that the congregation pays for the electricity and water.

“This is our little contribution in the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic,” Sr. Salang said, adding that by God’s grace they are still able to pay for the bills though schools and their retreat house are not operational as of the moment.

As to their school in Holy Cross College of Sasa, Sr. Salang said that the utility workers in the hospitals are staying there at the moment.

Since they are considered frontliners for Covid-19 for fear of infecting their families and loved ones if they stayed at their homes, the school has provided them with shelter like what other Catholic schools in the Archdiocese of Davao are doing in coordination with the Davao Association of Catholic Schools. (JFF/DCHerald)