EDITORIAL - Ignorance and discrimination

We have been under lockdown for one month, but it seems some people still don’t understand the situation. Particularly the role that frontliners play in our current situation.

A nurse who rents a room in SitioCallejon, Barangay Labangon, was allegedly refused entry by those guarding the sitio. The reason? They were worried she had been infected with COVID-19 in the hospital where she works and may infect the people in her neighborhood.

With the help of the police, she was eventually able to get home.

A video of the incident has found its way to social media where it has gained much attention. Fortunately, the Cebu City Mayor Edgardo Labella has ordered the City Legal Office to investigate the incident.

City Legal Officer Rey Gealon said there are appears to be a strong case against the offenders.

“By the looks of it, there seems to be a prima facie case. This is in pursuit of protection of public health, including the right of health workers from discrimination,” Gealon is quoted as saying. 

How many of our frontliners are experiencing the same discrimination? It was fortunate that this incident was recorded, but how many similar incidents were not recorded or made known to the public? How many frontliners cannot turn to authorities for help? We can be sure this isn’t just happening in Cebu City, but also in different parts of the country.

We ask those who are so quick to give in to their fears of infection; if the frontliners will stop taking care of the infected, testing Persons Under Monitoring, and other frontline tasks because of the bad treatment they receive, who will fill their shoes?

Many of these frontliners would rather be at home with their families, but every day they are risking their lives, often for total strangers. It is work they would rather not do, but someone has to do it, so off to work they go.

The least that those of us who don’t have to deal with this kind of risk every day is to make sure they are treated decently and get the dignity and respect they deserve.