The Eastern Visayas State University (EVSU) has distributed its locally made natural immune system booster drink to frontline workers helping to combat the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic in the region.
The drink called ExCITE, which means Extinguishing Communicable Infection Through Edible plant source, is a drink made from carrot extract, malunggay and calamansi, making it rich in iron, vitamin C, potassium, beta-carotene, and calcium — all nutrients needed to boost immunity against COVID-19.
“We do this to provide a healthy drink that could boost one’s immune system, especially those serving as frontliners in medical institutions, the community volunteers, and the vulnerable age groups,” EVSU President Dominador Aguirre Jr. explained.
According to Aguirre, the production of ExCITE, which was developed by the Eastern Visayas Food Innovation Center, is currently ongoing in collaboration with the technical expertise of nutritionists, food technologists and home economists of the university’s College of Technology.
As of April 3, Aguirre said EVSU already produced and donated 2,200 bottles of ExCITE to frontliners at checkpoints in Tacloban City and Palo, Leyte; police, health and social welfare personnel within Tacloban City; volunteers at the Yolanda relocation sites; the OSF Convent (Order of St. Francis) at Tigbao; and Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and Department of Science and Technology (DoST) regional offices.
The university targets to produce additional 2,500 330ml bottles of the drink to be distributed to other frontliners in the communities, Aguirre added.
Meanwhile, the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) announced that it will soon be funding state universities and colleges to increase their production of anti-COVID-19 products as the pandemic continues to hit the country.
CHED Chairman J. Prospero De Vera III said the commission lauds the efforts and initiatives of the SUCs throughout the country who see the health crisis “as an opportunity to produce innovative products to help our frontline workers.” (Alexandria San Juan)
