(We yield this space to the statement of the Center for Women’s Resources due to its timeliness. – Ed.)
THE COVID-19 pandemic disproportionately impacts women. Seven out of 10 of healthcare jobs in the Philippines comprise of women. During this pandemic, most of those who are on the frontlines of patient interactions make up of female health workers. With no vaccine yet, the lack of personal protective equipment (PPE) and testing kits make their health more vulnerable as front liners.
We unite with the call of medical frontliners to provide them expeditiously with PPE. Healthcare workers need to be equipped with protective gear to prevent infection. We have already heard of tragic deaths among healthcare professionals due to lack of protective gears like N95 respirator masks when dealing with patients with COVID-19. As of April 8, there have been 12,000 sets of PPEs distributed in 20 hospitals across Luzon. If one hospital uses up to 200 to 500 PPE per day, the distributed equipment will only last for a day or two. According to the Health Alliance for Democracy (HEAD), health workers still buy their own masks or use the donated improvised PPE from individuals and non-governmental organizations.
The condition of rural healthcare workers is much worse. Without the protective gears and wearing only handkerchiefs while checking on patients, they could not only be infected but they could also spread the virus.
Hospitals have declared of reaching the maximum capacity in receiving patients. Even without COVID-19 pandemic, the health system in the country lacks the necessary facilities to receive each patient. According to government data, there is one public doctor per 31,390 Filipinos, one public nurse per 16,832 Filipinos (2019 PSY). Privatization of social services aggravates the pathetic health condition in the country. Necessary equipment for intubation and ventilation is costly even in state hospitals. As 54 percent of medical expenses come from the pocket of patients, the spread of the COVID-19 virus causes panic to the majority of the populace. To date, 297 victims have died and the numbers are rising daily.
With the enormous power and massive funds given to President Rodrigo Duterte thru Bayanihan to Heal as One Act, he could have acted swiftly and efficiently to procure the necessary protective equipment for the front liners. He has no excuse for delays.
The lives of our medical frontliners are in danger. If they get sick or worse die, the lives of the Filipino people are also at risk.
