With the community quarantine enforced on the whole of Luzon, several Pinoy health workers went on social media to share their plight and how disheartening their current conditions are.
In a Facebook post by Chronicles of M.D, she shared how difficult their situations are especially those who already acquired the disease in the performance of their duties.
“Just to let you guys know, I am a PUI myself. It’s hard enough that I CANNOT be in the same room with my family at this difficult time, harder that I cannot join my fellow healthcare workers at the frontline and hardest to come to realize how twisted our system is,” she wrote.
https://www.facebook.com/chroniclesofMD/photos/a.342681235900814/1199479560220973/?type=3&theater
Aside from lack of personal protective equipment (PPE), inadequate food, and lack of public transportation, what’s more appalling according to her are the privileged politicians who cut through the protocols just to be tested even though they are asymptomatic.
“And these so called ‘leaders’ have the audacity to use these limited resources, Not follow protocols and rub it all over our faces! Pa-media pa more!!!
“This is the worst time to be selfish! This is the Best time to TRULY serve your people!
Utang na loob,” she added.
On Twitter, another fronliner @itspjames also lamented about their condition especially the transportation problem where they had to walk just to get to their assigned duties.
https://twitter.com/Itspjames/status/1239882824422813696
He also shared how they resorted to reusing face masks because of the lack of supplies which is dangerous and can put their health at risk since they are personally facing patients possibly infected by COVID-19.
As of this moment we don’t have any stocks of face mask. Just for the sake of having one, we decided reusing our mask, to somehow protect ourselves and not let the virus harm us. This happens when you cut budget on health. Still appealing for help! #COVID19PH pic.twitter.com/yS9k00aSs3
— James (@Itspjames) March 17, 2020
Meanwhile, netizen @drocarl also talked about the transportation problem of the front liners and asked the Office of the Vice President for help.
Hi Ma’am, I’m a nurse from the Philippine General Hospital, we currently have a pool of nurses na hirap talaga makabyahe due to lack of public transport. We have already identified places kung saan pwede mag-pickup na makaka-reach ng more people. Maybe you can help us! Thanks! https://t.co/ADT0Cq6Toh
— dro (@drocarl) March 17, 2020
LionhearTV was able to get hold of another doctor, who chose to remain anonymous, who shared how frustrating it is to see how this crisis is being handled.
In our interview through Twitter DM, he said the health workers and frontliners’ condition is overwhelming especially in Luzon. He added that DOH may be caught by surprise with the magnitude of the problem.
“Overwhelmed, especially in Luzon. Kulang na kulang ang mga PPE sa govt hospitals. Halatang hindi prepared ang DOH dito. Maybe they were expecting na hindi tayo tatamaan? I don’t know,” he said.
He also urged the DOH and private hospitals to look after the mental health of the frontliners because of the stress they are exposed to.
“I hope DOH and other private hospitals will not forget about the mental health of all frontliners. Physically pagod, pero iba ang mental and emotional stress na dala nitong pandemic na ito,” he added.
And lastly, he proposed that the government should procure more testing kits and test more people to know the magnitude of infection and help contain it once and for all.
“Dapat bilisan nila ang pag bili ng bagong kits. Dapat lahat sa community na test and if positive isolate ASAP. pero di ito nangyayari. Kaya yang data natin, underestimated yan. Unless we test and test and test people, di natin malalaman ang magnitude ng infection.”
With all the grievances of health workers regarding issues with transportation, Kapamilya broadcast journalist Karen Davila asked what’s the government’s plan for them since public transportation is suspended during the quarantine period.
“Our reporter says there are health workers, supermarket staff, security guards etc that NEED to go to work. With mass transport suspended, how will they get to work? Hoping govt addresses this today #ANCheadstart,” said Karen.
Our reporter says there are health workers, supermarket staff, security guards etc that NEED to go to work. With mass transport suspended, how will they get to work? Hoping govt addresses this today #ANCheadstart https://t.co/VlThk5K000
— Karen Davila (@iamkarendavila) March 17, 2020
Luckily the Office of the Vice President was able to arrange free shuttle services for the health workers which already started yesterday March 18.
[A] Sa lahat ng mga nag-aabang: Narito ang impormasyon tungkol sa routes ng free shuttle service ng Office ni VP Leni Robredo for health workers bukas, March 18.
Round trips will start 6AM, 11AM, and 4PM for all routes from the starting station. pic.twitter.com/WXhTH6jR6E
— Leni Robredo (@lenirobredo) March 17, 2020
The Dept. of Transportation will also deploy buses to transport health workers in Metro Manila.
https://twitter.com/DOTrPH/status/1240057333268398082
