Help our COVID-19 frontliners

By Francis Allan L. Angelo

I talked to a doctor friend who is one of the frontliners in the war on the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

I can sense the mixed emotions in his voice – courage to carry out their oath to save lives and fear for their own safety.

“We will fight COVID-19 but we cannot do this without the proper personal protective equipment. One by one we are falling down because many of our colleagues are now on two-week quarantine and are considered persons under investigation,” he said.

The most immediate need of our medical workers are PPEs, the real gear as shown in the photos, not mere raincoats.

My doctor friend said they are like on suicide missions now by exposing themselves to potential COVID-19 patients sans ample protection. Admittedly, private hospitals were also caught flatfooted in this pandemic. But they refuse to cower, they will carry on.

They are now calling for donations of PPEs to be distributed to private hospitals which are now at the frontline of this war. As much as they want to buy, supply is scarce and they called on political leaders and the private sector to help out.

“We challenge doctor-politicians who love to grab credit to be in the frontline and see our situation. Instead of seeking photo ops and sound bites, facilitate the PPEs for us if you cannot join us in combating this problem.”

Worse, some medical practitioners are being ostracised for leading the war on COVID-19. A case in point is The Medical City where the second confirmed COVID-19 patient is confined.

Dr. Felix Ray Villa, TMC medical director, said in an interview with Aksyon Radyo-Iloilo that the public should not shun them as they follow protocols to avoid spreading the disease.

Villa assured that they will continue to fulfil their oath no matter the challenges they face.

 

FOR ILOILO

On Monday, the Iloilo provincial government formally received the initial donations of former congressman Dr. Ferjenel Biron and his son Iloilo 4^th district Rep. Braeden John Biron which included surgical masks, head covers, and N95 masks.

Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr. received the donations which were distributed to rural health units and provincial and district hospitals.

Dr. Biron also pledged to donate 500 units of COVID-19 testing kits which will be turned over to Western Visayas Medical Center, the accredited testing center in the region.

The former congressman said part of the donation will also be given to private hospitals in Iloilo City even as he pledged to send PPEs to the frontliners.