EDITORIAL - COVID-19 discrimination

In an editorial not too long ago, we wrote about reports that medical workers are experiencing a certain discrimination because of COVID-19 fears.

There are no confirmed incidents of these here in Cebu City –for now. However, in Iloilo City, at least according to a report in Inquirer.net, some medical workers in a hospital are now facing discrimination because of the work they do.

According to the report, some workers in a hospital were barred from riding public transport or turned away at checkpoints apparently over COVID-19 fears.

Some were also refused service in eateries and, worse, even asked to leave their boarding houses by their landlords.

The good thing is that the Iloilo City government is rising to the occasion with the plan to take care of the lodgings of these medical workers.

Despite that, it’s still sad that those who are sacrificing so much are receiving such poor treatment from people who many have friends or family being treated for the virus or, God forbid, may at any time become infected with the dreaded virus themselves.

Again, we should reiterate that these medical workers are our frontline and also in some cases our last line of defense against COVID-19. If you are in this profession, there is always the risk of catching the virus.

Just to drive home the point, three doctors in Metro Manila have died from COVID-19 after being exposed to the virus. We hope there won’t be any more deaths from medical workers be they doctor, nurse, nursing aide, or any other profession involved in the fight against COVID-19, but no one is in a position to make this guarantee.

It’s worth mentioning again that while the rest of us won’t willingly expose ourselves to COVID-19 risks, these medical workers have to do so.

If we cannot make these medical workers feel appreciated for what they do and the risks they take, the least we can do for them is treat them decently and give them the dignity they deserve.