IN THIS time of Covid-19, doctors, nurses, and other health professionals are risking their lives by working closely with people stricken by the said deadly disease.
They are those who sacrificed not seeing their loved ones at home to avoid further transmitting the virus to them.
The saddest part is their expression of loneliness due to social discrimination and stigmatization.
Let me share with you two brilliant experts I have interviewed about their views on health professionals misunderstood by some people.
Dr. Efren Sabado, who is a social scientist in this pandemic crisis, shared that, "the government needs to aggressively educate the public about the vital roles of the healthcare workers such as doctors, nurses and etc. These workers are in the frontlines and the public needs to understand what that means."
Sabado emphasized that other than understanding their importance in the overall health care system, it is important also to communicate to the public the needs and concerns of the health care workers. It includes how we treat and care for them as members of the community.
Sabado added that “through aggressive public education using various social media platforms, it can help erase the stigma or misinformation about them.”
"I never thought I would see the day that health workers are treated like this, we are grateful to all hotels, inns, and building owners who have opened their doors to our hardworking medical frontliners," said Davao City Councilor Mary Joselle Villafuerte, chairperson of the Committee on Health.
She added that people should continue to pray more that Dabawenyos will follow the health guidelines set by the city and the health experts.
Villafuerte, however, believed that the people directly taking care of our loved ones should be honored and not vilified. She said the City Government is working hard to find remedy for the injustice that some medical practitioners have experienced.
I am disheartened that health professionals are treated like zombies. We should understand by heart that despite their fears to get infected with the disease, they continue to serve because of their passion and oath to care for the sick. Remember, that they are like soldiers facing mental stress. They are humans too that feel the sorrow of loss when patients die due to the virus. And they have families waiting for them at home.
Money cannot pay their heroism and dedication. We must open our minds and hearts that health care professionals allow us to hope that in time, everything will be well. So, let us give them love and support, instead of discrimination!
Above all, let us continue to believe that through God, nothing is impossible!