An OPEN LETTER to the society from a healthcare professional in the midst of war against corona virus goes viral

An OPEN LETTER addressed to the public written by a healthcare professional in the midst of war against corona virus goes viral.

Nurse Jenie Fontanilla has taken to socmed lodging her complaint of public discrimination against healthcare professionals like her experience as the country faces the crisis brought about by covid-19.

Fontanilla also took a jab at fellow Filipinos who are in panic buying mode, literally emptying our store shelves of surgical masks and alcohol to protect their families, but in return, they are depriving healthcare professionals the necessary items to protect themselves from covid-19. But she clarified that she perfectly understand these people who are only trying to protect their families. She can’t just stand the thought that some of those people are overreacting. Fontanilla remarked these people are not making the situation any better.

Fontanilla can’t help but vent her frustrations on Facebook especially that instead of getting appreciated for sticking their necks out, helping the government deal with covid-19, the public are discriminating them because they work in the frontline.

Fontanilla appealed to the public to stop discriminating and isolating healthcare professionals so that they will not lose heart and continue the fight against the scourge of covid-19. Otherwise, if they start abandoning the hospitals for fear of the virus, who would take their jobs and take care of the sick? She asked.

Fontanilla ended the FB post telling fellow Filipinos that all we need is an open mind. She also urged netizens to stop sharing unverified information re covid-19 and to pray and fight the virus together. She ended with reassuring words that humanity can win against this virus just like in the past and COVID-19 shall pass.

You may read the full FB post below.

Yesterday, I was wearing my uniform on my way to work. I rode a jeepney and the driver was staring at my uniform and asked, “Miss, san ka bababa?.” Then, there’s this other girl who sat beside me. She stared at me for a while, took her mask out from her bag, stood up and went to the other side.

Today, it’s my rest day. I went out to buy some stuff and a lot of people were outside but suddenly, when they saw me, they all went back inside their house. One of them stared at me while standing in the front door and told me this, “Uy di ba nurse ka? Baka mamaya yung pasyente mo, may COVID na hindi mo lang alam. Wag ka na munang lumabas. Baka mamaya makahawa ka pa.”

I was trying to make myself calm but I snapped.

This is TOO MUCH.

It’s been days since the number of reported COVID-19 patients has boomed nationwide. People have been sharing information on how to prevent the Corona Virus from spreading. People have been buying lots of stocks of surgical masks, alcohol and etc. to protect themselves and their families causing others to be deprived of those supplies especially US, the healthcare professionals. Pero hindi naman kami nag-rally di ba? We didn’t go up against you on how you want to protect yourself and those you love.

Okay lang, naintindihan naman namin na you just have to do what you can to prevent the virus from coming in to you and your families kahit wala na kaming magamit sa hospital. Pero yung iba OA na. Masiyado nang exaggerated. YOU ARE NOT MAKING THE SITUATION ANY BETTER.

It is just frustrating that while we, NURSES AND THE OTHER HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONALS ARE DOING OUR UTMOST BEST TO HELP THE GOVERNMENT IN DEALING WITH COVID-19, SOME OF YOU ARE SO BUSY DOING THEIR BEST TO ISOLATE US JUST BECAUSE WE ARE IN THE FRONTLINE.

Kung hindi rin kami papasok dahil sa takot sa virus, sino ang papalit samin? Kung gagawin din namin yung part namin bilang mga anak, asawa, tatay at nanay at hindi bilang nurse, doctor, medtech, nursing assistant, atbp.,sino ang gugustuhing mag-duty sa ospital sa gitna ng corona virus issue? Meron din naman kaming sariling pamilya. Do you think gugustuhin namin na ilagay sila sa sitwasyon na pwede silang mahawa? Kung hindi kami mananatili sa frontline, WHO WILL???

We are human beings too. Natatakot din kami for our safety but we have to keep going because this profession is our calling. We took an oath to take care of you, people no matter how grave the situation is. No matter how contagious your illness is. Hindi po biro yung mag-alaga ng mga pasyente WHEN ALL THE MEDICAL SUPPLIES THAT ARE SUPPOSED TO PROTECT US ARE RAPIDLY RUNNING OUT OF SUPPLY.

People of the Philippines, what we are asking is your full support and cooperation. We need you to hold our back when all our hands are on deck dahil mas dumadami yung bilang ng COVID-19 patients sa Pilipinas. STOP DISCRIMINATING AND ISOLATING US.

Ngayon natin mas kailangan ng OPEN MIND. We can’t do this alone. Let us all stop sharing unverified information regarding the phenomena and start PRAYING for everyone. Let us fight this war together. And believe that like any other viruses that we have fought against way back, this COVID-19 too shall pass. God bless everyone.