Nurses constitute the bulk of healthcare workers fighting the COVID-19 pandemic, the Philippine Nurses Association (PNA) Cebu Chapter says.
CEBU CITY, Philippines — Nurses in Cebu are concerned of the rising cases of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19).
In a statement, the Philippine Nurses Association (PNA) Cebu Chapter said that the rising cases may again place a toll on the nursing professionals as what has been observed last year during the outbreak.
“Because we do not want to repeat this unfortunate history of nurses suffering from burnout and exhaustion, we call for solidarity among the public to continue to adhere to the health and safety protocols set by the government.”
“We remind our fellow Cebuanos to frequently do hand hygiene, practice physical distancing, wear masks appropriately and avoid mass gatherings. We urge everyone to continue to be vigilant and avoid complacency,” said the group.
The group appeals to the government to balance the economic gains and the need to uphold health standards during the pandemic and provide timely provision of clear and transparent guidelines and training on vaccine-related procedures.
They also air their appeal for rational provision of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and the augmentation of basic salaries and benefits, especially among private institutions.
“In the province of Cebu, as in the entire country, nurses are the biggest healthcare workforce against this pandemic. Our contribution to this global healthcare burden has been valuable and remarkable in so many ways. Nurses, like many of us, are also family members, friends, and ultimately persons who equally need to be cared for. Let us show our care by fighting on the side of our nurses and other healthcare providers,” said the group.
Lastly, the group calls unto their fellow nurses to be champions in the advocacy towards health and safety standards.
“Let us transcend a positive message of hope by giving accurate information for a more informed choice, and not be prime movers of misinformation and doubt,” said PNA Cebu. /rcg