Salute to Our Health Heroes
Dennis Christian Hilanga in Ang Pinoy Stories
Aug 31, 2020 • 2 min Read
Our health heroes man the front lines and fight an invisible enemy.
They are not fictional heroes with extraordinary powers, but they risk their own lives to save others. The only superpower they have is the unparalleled dedication to their sworn duty. Armed with face masks, face shields, bodysuits, and courage, they take on a gigantic task.
As the Philippines celebrates its National Heroes Day today, let us honor the health workers who know no surrender during this pandemic. Doctors, nurses, medical technologists, and other allied health professionals are modern-day heroes because of their relentless sacrifice to help flatten the curve.
How tiring is it to treat Covid19 patients? Aside from physical stress —
- Our health heroes barely eat and sleep on time.
- They sweat a lot inside their thick personal protective equipment (PPE) gears.
- They experience psychological stress — anxiety, burnout, and more.
- They experience social discrimination because of the nature of their work.
Nurse Gem was seen wandering the streets after being expelled by her landlady from an apartment in Makati City because she tested positive for COVID-19. Because she could not go home to Batangas, she went to the barangay health center but failed to get help. She was rescued by Dr. Zenaida Beltajar.
Last March, doctors, nurses, medical technicians, and even security guards from The Medical City – Iloilo were told to leave their boarding houses by their landlords after the hospital confirmed its first COVID-19 patient in the province. These health workers were even rejected by eateries and buses and were asked to return to border checkpoints.
Despite ordinances passed by local government units particularly in Metro Manila where cases were surging that prohibit the discrimination of COVID19 patients, stigma remains. The sad plight of Gem from Makati City and the Iloilo health workers are just two of the many reported inhumane assaults all over the country. There could be many more in other places.
Health workers are very vulnerable to infection. According to the Department of Health, a total of 6,735 have contracted the disease as of August 28. Of these cases, 6070 have recovered, 625 are active cases, while deaths have reached 40. The latest casualties are Dr. Hilario Mangoba, a pediatrician, and Dr. Kathlynne Anne Abat-Senen, a neonatologist and infectious disease specialist from the Philippine General Hospital.
The heroism of these medical workers is worthy of every Filipinos’ pride. They have courage. They are inspiring. They do not deserve maltreatment. They deserve respect and honor.
How would we win this pandemic without them?
Rather than discriminate them, let us help and cooperate with them. Their battle is our battle as well.
From Ang Pinoy, a grand salute to all our medical heroes.
Mabuhay kayo!
