Nurses urge P100,000 benefit for all health workers with COVID-19

A group of nurses on Sunday urged the government to provide a P100,000 sickness benefit for all healthcare workers infected with the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and not just those who are considered severe cases.

Interviewed on Super Radyo dzBB, Filipino Nurses United President Maristela Abenojar said they have forwarded their appeal to the Department of Health (DOH) but have yet to receive a response.

“Kami ay naglabas ng isang apela sa ating pamahalaan na sana lahat ng matutukoy na infected ay bigyan ng P100,000, hindi lang ‘yung nasa severe na… Mabilis kasi e, na mula sa mild lang ‘yung iyong nararamdaman, puwedeng mag-progress agad into severe,” she said.

“It’s not fair na double or threefold ‘yung hazard na hinaharap namin pero pili lang ‘yung bibigyan mo ng compensation,” she added.

Abenojar also underscored that healthcare workers with COVID-19 have “legitimate needs” that make them deserving of the sickness benefit, such as the need to provide for their families on top of hospital expenses.

She also said that nurses have been “frustrated” over the snail-paced distribution of personal protective equipment.

“Tapos nakikita rin nila na tumataas ‘yung bilang ng kasamahan nila na nagkakasakit tapos hindi pa rin naipapatupad ‘yung mass testing sa hanay ng mga health workers,” Abenojar added.

DOH data as of June 12 showed that 2,846 health workers have contracted COVID-19, 1,806 of whom have recovered and 33 have died.

Nurses account for the highest number of infections among health workers with 1,032 cases and three fatalities. — DVM, GMA News