Health Workers, Frontliners In Iloilo City Face Discrimination
ILOILO CITY – Frontliners and health workers in Iloilo City are face discrimination as they are being banned from entering eateries and their homes.
Dr Felix Ray Villa, chief executive officer of Medical City Iloilo where the first case of coronavirus disease 2019 in the province was admitted, confirmed rumors in social media that their frontliners were being discriminated in local stores, and even in their homes.
According to Rappler, Villa further said that they did not expect this to happen, adding that about 50 workers told them that after returning home, they were banned from entry by their barangays and boarding houses.
The workers also find transportation difficult and they were even evicted from their homes. Villa felt upset over the unfair treatment faced by health workers.
The chief added that other hospitals would also face discrimation, considering their situation, further urging the public not to treat them unfairly as they are the last soldiers in fighting the virus, else, the country will be defenseless.
Iloilo province reported their first ever COVID-19 case on Saturday, March 21. The case was identified as a man, 65 years of age, with no travel history to foreign countries and local cities with COVID-19 cases.
Based on the report, the hospital assured the public that it had been observing appropriate quarantine and containment protocol in February.
Among the guidelines in the protocol were a “no visitor” policy, a one-way entry for patients, and strict assessment of travel history and health conditions of all who enters the hospital.
The said hospital has about 500 employees, among those were 300 handling PUMs and PUIs. There is a 1:1 nurse to patient ratio for all PUMs and PUIs in order to reduce contact with vulnerable patients.
Villa felt proud that his frontliners remained calm despite the first confirmed case in the province.
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