RUNNER and nephrologist Gerry Mayo enters the hospital every day carrying not just his stethoscope but his prayer book and rosary as he faces patients who are vulnerable to the coronavirus disease (Covid-19).
Mayo, the president of Spectrum Running Club, handles dialysis patients in at least two to three hospitals in a single day. He also checks his admitted patients.
As people with underlying health conditions, like the dialysis patients, are more vulnerable to Covid-19, Mayo is leaving no stone unturned in regard to safety protocols and measures inside and outside of the hospital.
“I cannot go to all the five hospitals and centers that I used to do daily since I have to limit my exposure,” he told SunStar Cebu. “Of course, I have to practice extreme precautions. Wearing my PPE and make sure that the triage in my centers are doing what they should do.”
Mayo checks patients in Sto. Niño Dialysis Center, Cebu Doctors’ Hospital, Cebu South General Hospital, St. Vincent General Hospital, Visayas Community Medical Center and San Lucas Medical Center.
“As a frontliner we have to do our job in protecting and treating our citizens. We are badly needed during these times. We are on the vanguard in this health crisis we are facing. Let’s do our best to keep safe by practicing extreme precautionary measures, to keep our numbers strong,” he said.
Mayo urged the people to follow the protocols of the Department of Health and to always stay at home to lessen the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic.
As a nephrologist, Mayo’s task is to check on dialysis patients with utmost care as they’re very vulnerable to Covid-19 with immune system dysfunctions.
“They’re the high-risk patients. They have immune system dysfunctions so they are very prone to infections, especially to Covid-19 and pneumonia,” Mayo said.
“Also high cardiac risks, since the number one cause of mortality and morbidity in this subset of patients is cardiac event. May it be a heart attack, heart failure, sudden cardiac death or irregular heartbeats. That’s why most of the dialysis patients who had Covid-19, heart manifestations are very predominant,” added Mayo.
Before leaving for work, Mayo does disinfection in his entire house. He also undergoes another disinfection protocol in the afternoon after doing his hospital rounds.
“Some Spectrum members who are quarantined in my house help me with the disinfection, outside and inside the house.
“I go to the hospitals at 8:30 a.m. and I’m back here at 3 p.m. I have to undergo disinfection protocols before I can enter the house,” he said.
With the Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) currently raised in the city, Mayo has found a new hobby in gardening. He started planting vegetables inside his house.
“I also have a tilapia in my fishpond. I built the fishpond and started gardening at the start of ECQ,” he shared.
To keep himself in shape and physically fit amid this global health crisis, Mayo spends some of his time at the treadmill and stationary bike.
“Many health workers have been infected in the line of duty. We must protect ourselves too because a strong and adequate healthcare sector is badly needed during these times. And aside from our efforts, we need prayers too,” he ended. (RSC)