Occidental and Ecopetrol provided the department of Arauca with equipment for COVID-19 diagnosis.

 

At an event held at the headquarters of the El Alcaraván Foundation, the Departmental Secretary of Finance, Daniel González, and the director of the Special Administrative Unit of Health of Arauca (UAESA), Doctor Edgar Contreras, received the equipment that will allow to double the processing capacity of the UAESA Laboratory.

Members of the executive team from Occidental and Ecopetrol participated virtually in the machine delivery event. 

“We are confident that, with this equipment, the capacity for processing laboratory tests will be substantially increased, ensuring a more efficient and rapid possibility of care for positive patients, and an immediate reaction to carry out the necessary epidemiological containment measures,” said Patricio Rivera, referring to this donation that is part of the so-called “Solidarity Plan” that Occidental and Ecopetrol have been advancing since March, to help mitigate the health and social consequences of the pandemic in Arauca. 

Likewise, during the event and also via videoconference, Dr. Jose Fernando Cristancho explained: “This state-of-the-art equipment identifies the coronavirus antigen using a technique known as polymerase chain reaction that amplifies the ribonucleic acid (RNA) sequences of the virus. Additionally, the equipment has the capability to identify other microorganisms such as human papillomavirus, tuberculosis bacteria, and other respiratory viruses.”.

“Due to the high demand for these machines worldwide and the limitations for importation and air transport, it was a challenging task to bring this machine to Arauca from abroad before the end of June; but we are very pleased to be able to deliver this important resource to the health authority of the department,” stated María de la Paz García, Social Responsibility Manager.

In addition to the donation of the equipment, the contribution made by Occidental and Ecopetrol includes its installation and training for the personnel who will operate it. For its part, the departmental administration will provide the reagents and other necessary supplies for conducting the tests.

Although identifying infected individuals through testing is an essential practice for the timely management of this pandemic, preventive self-care measures such as frequent handwashing and social distancing are fundamental practices to avoid the spread of the disease.