The perils our frontliners face in the fight against COVID-19

As the number of confirmed coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases increases every day in the Philippines, hundreds of frontliners such as doctors, janitors, and nurses are working together to save lives and prevent the spread of the virus.

In a Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho episode on Sunday, some frontliners detailed their struggles in helping people while risking their own lives.

“Threatening pero it's part of our profession. Mahirap kasi hindi namin nakikita ‘yung kalaban namin eh,” said Jose, one of the nurses at the hospital.

[“It’s dangerous, yes. But it’s all part of the job. The difficult thing about it is that we can’t see the enemy.”]

Discrimination amid crisis

Despite risking their lives to stop the spread of the disease, some frontliners experience discrimination.

Medical technologist Benette Victoria shared that she worked in a hospital in Cagayan de Oro where there was a known COVID-19 patient.

As she would go to and fro the hospital wearing her uniform, jeepney vehicles won’t even let her on anymore.

Sometimes, people would ask her where she worked and when she would say the name of the hospital, they would immediately ask if she had the virus or not.

Victoria shared that she felt awful about it, especially when she’s just trying to do her job.

COVID-19 and the lack of equipment and facilities

Janine is a nurse who is now a Person Under Investigation. She is under home quarantine after she was exposed to a patient with COVID-19.

Because there wasn’t enough protective equipment in the hospital, she made rounds in the isolation room wearing only a surgical mask.

Not long after, she started showing symptoms of the disease such as headache, fever, and cough. She was then advised to go under home quarantine.

Because of the lack of protective equipment and facilities, more and more members of the medical staff are sent home to undergo a 14-day home quarantine.

To help out, doctors have come together to create a group called "Protect the Frontline".

Through this effort, non-government organizations are able to donate masks, PPE (Personal Protective Equipment), and other needed supplies, said co-founder Dr. Jason Ligot. 

The invisible frontliners

Aside from medical professionals, service workers have also been at the forefront of the battle against COVID-19.

Carl Vien, a janitor, is one of them. He posted a photo of himself during his shift. It quickly went viral.

Working for the hospital for over five years now, Vien said that he was in charge of segregating infectious waste and disinfecting used gowns.

Like doctors and nurses, Vien is at risk of exposing himself to the virus.

He may not be healing the sick directly, but Vien takes pride in his line of work. In a different way, he was also stopping the spread of the virus.

He shared, “Proud po ako dahil nababawasan ko po yung trabaho ng mga doctor, nurse.”

[“At the very least, I’m glad that I could lessen the burdens of the doctors and nurses.]

Progress 

According to recent reports, there have been no new cases of COVID-19 in China, and although more than 200,000 cases have been reported worldwide, more than 90,000 have been known to heal from the disease, a number bigger than those who died.

In the Philippines, the entire Luzon has been under enhanced community quarantine to curb the spread of the virus. DOH advised everyone to participate in the lockdown to further stop the transmission of the disease.

Amid the COVID-19 crisis, frontliners continue day in and day out to save lives despite the risks and sacrifices. — Kaela Malig/LA, GMA News