Opinions by: Symona
Cartoon by: MAD
Growing up, we used to believe that superheroes were only characters in comic books, shows, and movies. Not knowing that they are very much present in our everyday lives. And no, they’re not our typical superheroes who have magical powers, or fly around in capes, or have incredible strength.
But just like any superhero in comic books, medical front liners risk their lives while using their expertise to save the lives of patients battling against the COVID-19 pandemic. However, these superheroes are in great danger due to lack of personal protective equipment (PPE) that could be used in dealing with infected patients. Thereby, making themselves prone and vulnerable to infections.
News reports that the COVID-19 confirmed cases and deaths continue to increase each passing day, with a total of 3, 660 cases and 163 deaths (as of April 7, 2020). Among those 152 deaths, more than 10 doctors have already died risking their lives for the people: Dr. Israel Bactol, Dr. Rose Pulido, Dr. Gregorio Macasaet III, Dr. Marcelo Jaochico, Dr. Raul Diaz Jara, Dr. Helen Tudtud, Dr. Marcelo Jauchico, Dr. Sally Gatchalian, Dr. Henry Fernandez, Dr. Raquel Seva, Dr. Hector Alvarez, Dr. Leandro Resurreccion III, Dr. Dennis Tudtud, Dr. Mary Grace Lim.
Unfortunately, there have been incidences that patients, who were confirmed positive with the virus, lied about their full conditions to their doctors. Some even disregard and disrespect quarantine protocols just to tend to their personal wants and needs. Not only do they endanger their lives, but also the lives of the medical front liners.
What’s worse is that the government’s incompetence to handle serious health issues takes a huge toll on medical front liners. For instance, due to the increasing number of cases, some medical frontliners are forced to improvise PPEs (personal protective equipment) because of the rapid decrease of supply. Poor distribution of PPE suits makes the front liners to be more vulnerable to the virus. Robert Mendoza, the Alliance of Health Workers (AHW) Secretary-General, comments,
“How are we going to provide quality care services to our patients if we are getting sick? How can the government not have the heart to provide us with proper and quality PPEs?”
Dr. Therese Suñe of the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM) said in an interview that the increasing number of cases has caused their hospital (and many others) to be understaffed.
“Reality is that we’re currently understaffed, not just RITM, but I think all over the Philippines. Our doctors, nurses, and frontliners are already getting sick.”
In fact, the total number of patients in a population outweighs the number of doctors, with a ratio of 1:33,000 from the ideal ratio of 1:10,000, according to the World Health Organization.
Therefore, as citizens of this country, let us do our part and help our superheroes even within the four corners of our homes. We could support them by posting our thanks and gratitude on social media. We could also share their online posts asking for PPE donations. And of course, the most important thing that anyone of us could do: pray for them. Pray that the superheroes fighting on the frontlines never lose the determination and courage to face this situation.
Pray that they will survive this crisis healthily, so that they may go back to their loved ones when this is all over.
Pray that this COVID-19 pandemic would end soon.
Through these ways, we can prove to this country that even without medical experience, we are able to help the medical frontliners defeat our common enemy.
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