Two of seven Filipino health workers of Zamboanga City Medical Center were featured on an article on ICRC website entitled "World Humanitarian Day 2020: Respect and protect health workers in the COVID-19 pandemic". This World Humanitarian Day, we honor the frontline health workers who show up each day to provide life-saving care to people who need it most, despite the risks and the discrimination they may face.
Natalya Frances Sousa, RN, COVID-19 unit nurse, Zamboanga City Medical Center (ZCMC)
In April 2020, Natalya was assigned to the COVID-19 ward of the Zamboanga City Medical Center (ZCMC), a government-run facility that caters to COVID-19 patients in the Zamboanga region. She is now back to working at the ZCMC's non-COVID-19 orthopedic unit, but she remains to be an infection-control nurse. She makes decisions and plans how to best prevent virus transmission among patients. Natalya's biggest worry about the pandemic is its impact on the mental well-being of patients and health workers like her, who have experienced discrimination out of others' fears that they are carriers of the virus.
"Through this pandemic, I saw the essence of nursing—that is to nurture our patients and to be their light in times of darkness and vulnerability. This experience has opened my eyes and heart more to always do magis (more) and to take the extra mile but still with utmost precaution. Just taking time to talk to our patients even for a little while makes a huge impact on their perception of life and that, I think, is what motivates them to aim for healing and wellness."
Dr. Kevin Paul Enriquez, medical doctor at the Zamboanga City Medical Center COVID-19 ward
A medical resident-in-training, Kevin is one of the doctors who are assigned to do rounds at the COVID-19 ward of the Zamboanga City Medical Center. To limit the risk of transmission among health care workers, Kevin and his fellow doctors must go on hospital duty for seven days straight, followed by a period of quarantine. They are brought back to do rounds once they test negative for the disease. Because of his busy schedule and the days spent away in quarantine, Kevin misses his family a lot. He worries about their safety, especially as the number of infections continue to rise.
“This pandemic has taught me many lessons, particularly the value of perseverance. No one was ready for the pandemic, and it hit hard when least expected. Further into the course of this crisis, more challenges will arise. Adjustments will be constant. As humans who have personal lives and families, we are equally vulnerable to the threats of this pandemic both psychologically and emotionally. As health care workers, our task is to remain firm and flexible to the changes that are yet to be encountered. In finding fulfillment in the things we do, we gain joy and a deeper desire to reach out to our patients and to keep going.”
Source: https://www.icrc.org/