By Pearl Gumapos
Now more than ever, more doctors and nurses are needed to help fight against the COVID-19 virus, Philippine Red Cross (PRC) Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Sen. Richard Gordon said.
“Kailangan talaga na marami tayong doktor sapagkat mahihirapan tayo. Dapat pairalin natin ‘yung hazard pay ng mga nurses at mga doktor natin,” Gordon said during a Laging Handa public briefing on Thursday (Aug. 12)
Gordon said that the reason we are undertaking a lockdown is to minimize the heavy load of hospitals brought upon by the pandemic, and to ensure that our medical frontliners get some rest.
“Pag nag-overload, delikado ‘yan. Magkakasakit mga doktor natin. Kaya sinasabi ko na dagdagan ang mga doktor at dagdagan ang ating mga nurses at saka mga nursing aide para talagang makatulong tayo diyan,” Gordon said.
Gordon also said there is a need for more vaccines.
“At kailangan dagdagan natin ang mga bakuna. Whatever the cost, dapat unahin natin ‘yang bakuna. Ang bakuna ang first line of defense. At finally, kailangan sumunod. ‘Wag tayong pasaway,” he said.
“Kung meron pa tayong makuhang bakuna sa iba’t-ibang lugar, gamitin natin sapagkat ‘yan lang ang makakapagpigil apart from testing and tracing and treatment. ‘Yan ang makakapagpigil sa ating problema para makaahon tayo by 2022 or 2023” he added. -rir