More Mindanao frontliners get virus

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY—Some 32 of the 73 medical frontliners at Northern Mindanao Medical Center (NMMC) infected with COVID-19 had recovered, raising the morale of health workers in this regional capital that continues to grapple with rising infections.

But in Zamboanga del Sur province, health officials have to cope with reduced number of health frontliners with 23 of their medical workers now confined after contracting the virus.

Dr. Bernard Julius Rocha, NMMC liaison officer, said the 32 recoveries included nurses, doctors, pharmacists, nursing attendants and a laboratory technician.

Of the number, 19 personnel have reported back to work, Rocha added, beefing up the staff complement of NMMC, Northern Mindanao’s main COVID-19 referral facility. The remaining 41 virus-infected health workers are confined in the local government-run isolation facilities.

Rocha assured their health workers have chosen to continue the fight against the virus, and were not entertaining any thought of resigning from their jobs.

He disclosed that an in-house investigation showed that their frontliners may have contracted the virus either at the hospital’s section catering to COVID-19 patients, or at their respective communities and neighborhoods.

Cagayan de Oro City continues to experience a double-digit increase in cases for almost two weeks now. As of Oct. 22, the city has 400 active cases. Of the 1,348 total cases since March, 61 have died.

GOOD NEWS Northern Mindanao Medical Center announces on Thursday the recovery of 32 of its 73 medical personnel who contracted COVID-19. The hospital, the main referral facility for virus patients in Northern Mindanao, remains open despite a shortage in health frontliners. —INQUIRER PHOTO

Discrimination

In Pagadian City, 20 health workers are on quarantine after contracting the virus, bringing to 23 the total number of medical frontliners in Zamboanga del Sur who were infected with COVID-19.

Zamboanga del Sur Medical Center (ZSMC) chief Dr. Anatalio Cagampang Jr. lamented the discrimination suffered by health workers. Most drivers of public utility vehicles refused to convey these health workers after learning that the hospital they work in have reported cases, he said.

Of the 23 infected health workers, 14 are from ZSMC (four doctors and 10 nurses), and nine are medical technologists and other hospital staff in other medical facilities.

Cagampang said they might be forced to temporarily shut down ZSMC if more of its staff were infected.

As of Oct. 22, the province has 194 cases, almost double the count of 98 on Oct. 10. Within the same period, eight have died, bringing to nine the total deaths from the virus.