Since the first day of the COVID-19 pandemic declaration in March last year, there has been one constant figure in all efforts to fight the dreaded disease: the medical front-liner.
Faced with the enormous task of treating COVID-19 patients, they are not exempted from committing mistakes, especially when they are exhausted.
The June viral video of a Makati City volunteer nurse who forgot to inject the vaccine even if the needle was inserted into the recipient’s arm was an example of a tired worker who made an error.
“Sometimes nagkakaroon siguro talaga ng mga ganung pangyayari. Pagod na kasi ‘yung mga tao kaya humihingi na lang kami ng pang-unawa sa public,” Jing Herrera, nurse coordinator of the Manila Emergency Operations Center, told the Philippine News Agency on Thursday during the vaccination of seafarers at the San Andres Sports Complex.
Herrera said human errors, like the one in the Makati video, are bound to happen but they are few and far between and are isolated cases.
At the Manila Health Department (MHD), Herrera said they make sure that they get enough rest and alternate schedules are followed.
“Kami dito para magkaroon ng quality ng pagbabakuna ang mga nurses namin, binibigyan namin sila ng time para makapagpahinga kasi alam namin pagod na ang lahat,” Herrera said.
She said they have teams A and B in every vaccination site.
The MHD staff, just like in other local government units, have been deployed since the first day of the pandemic.
“From day one, kami na ‘yung nagre-respond sa mga tanong.Tapos nung dumami na yung mga nag-positive, we have quarantine facilities, kami pa rin ang kumukuha, nagdadala. Then after that, bakuna na, kami pa rin. So hindi kami nawala sa field,” she said.
Aside from the physical exhaustion, Herrera said another challenge they face every day is explaining misconceptions about the vaccine.
“May mga tao kasi na ang feeling nila, ‘pag binakunahan sila, hindi na sila magkaka-COVID-19 (There are people who think that they will no longer contract COVID-19 if they are already vaccinated),” she said.
Dr. Estelita Bangate, also of the MHD, said risks are part of their profession but their passion, dedication, and the will to serve keep them on their toes.
She said they are also fortunate that they have families who support them and understand their jobs.
“Never ko na-isip na sumuko na kahit sobrang hirap kasi sinumpaan naming tungkulin yun eh. Trabaho ko yun eh. Kasama talaga. Nagkataon lang talaga na nagkaroon ng pandemic ngayon,” she said. (PNA) -rir
