Personally, I would like to commend the perseverance and commitment of Filipinos particularly those in the frontline services. Because if not for your sacrifices the businesses and industries in the country will not thrive today.
Selflessly, the frontline workers
put behind their personal issues and fears in order to continue to perform
their duty amidst the threat of the pandemic. And these are all for the love of
their family and the community they serve. The motivations that these frontline
services keep surely is effective as they continue to hold up to the challenges
of time, in helping the demand of the nation during its most trying times.
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But while the current period has
presented modern-day
icons, there
is no denying that these people from the frontline industries are also
suffering from Covid
fatigue, and
some of them started to lose empathy to people.
This writer is fortunate to have
a cousin who is a doctor, her husband is an emergency nurse, and have met a good
neurologist long before the pandemic, as well as friends from the public
health sector who
managed to maintain good relations with others despite their own personal
battle. Admittedly, due to lack of medical manpower, despite testing positive
of Covid there were doctors who despite testing positive but found asymptomatic were asked to continue to
provide service to patients via teleconsultation.
However, while these actions are truly commendable, the government must ensure that the mental and psychological
well-being of
health workers are taken care of, as some of them have started to show sign of loosing empathy,
understanding and consideration for people who seek medical assistance. Thus, it is my understanding that it is improper to hear a doctor say, "Wala na akong magagawa sa
stroke mo dahil matagal na iyon at new record na kami. Ang kailangan mo ay
magpa-test", another doctor said, "Bahala kayo kung ayaw ninyong
gawin ang sinasabi ko, basta ang sinasabi ko lang sana magawa ito before the end
of the month".
This is not to cast judgment on
these doctors, I would assume that if such doctors are given sufficient rest
and debriefing they would be able to stand up to the challenges of this health
crisis. And would be able to come up with a more diplomatic approach to
patients attending the teleconsultation. In case people are forgetting, those
seeking medical help mostly, are patients with comorbidities such as
hypertension, diabetes, heart ailment, stroke survivors, and a lot more others.
Therefore, they must be accorded with consideration.
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Perhaps, they opted for a consultation to ensure their health's safety
as they would not have to leave the comforts of their home. That they would avoid going out to undergo medical tests at nearby hospitals and clinics for
fear of infection because the enemy has no face.
I would like to think that the
incident I cited as an example was an isolated incident, but while isolated
this is a symptom that health
workers also need attention that is detrimental in the country's overall fight
against the Covid pandemic. As such, this issue would hopefully land in the
attention of the Department of Health or any agency that would merit the
welfare of those in the health and medical services. This way, the people could
be assured that the attention these doctors and nurses provide the public is
indeed for the protection and not to take away lives.