Pinay nurse in COVID-hit Italy: 'Sa dami ng pasyente, 'di na namin alam sino ang priority'

Being a medical worker in Italy right now is an unprecedented kind of struggle.

A Pinay nurse based in the coronavirus-hit country shared what she endures as she navigates the new world the pandemic plunged her into.

"Sa dami ng pasyente, 'di namin alam kung sino mas priority," Divina Guerrero said in a Brigada Special Online Series aired Thursday.

"Lahat priority naman so hindi namin malaman kung saan namin ilalagay mga kamay namin eh," she added.

Divina has been a nurse in Italy since 1992, but she has never lived through a more challenging time than the ongoing health crisis.

Italy is one of the worst coronavirus-hit countries in the world. Ranking the third country with the largest number of cases, Italy is reported to have over 183,957 confirmed coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases with over 24,648 deaths as of Wednesday.

"'Yung tinira ng COVID-19 na ito sa pangkalahatan doon ay napakatragic," Divina shared. "Karamihan noon ay nahihirapang huminga."

Aside from dealing with COVID-19 patients day in and day out, Divina shared that it was also taxing to work wearing the personal protective equipment (PPE).

She said, "Napakainit sa katawan. Pagsuot mo palang papawisan ka na kaya araw-araw ang sauna namin dito," the Pinoy nurse said. "Pero walang kainan, walang ihian dahil nga doon pa lang sa pagbibihis pagtatanggal mo ng PPE [matagal na]."

She shared that they'd also wear a single use gown once they enter the ward.

Despite the hardships she endures, Divina shared that it was all worth it since she already saw Italians as her own family.

"Ramdam nating bilang Pilipino na parang pamilya mo 'yun. Hindi mo talaga sila maayawan," she shared.

She added, "'Yung mga pasyenteng lumalaban sa gitna ng kamatayan, doon ako humuhugot ng lakas."

Divina admitted that she never felt as if being a frontliner can be considered as a hero until that very moment.

"Pwede pala maging hero ang mga frontliners. Marunong din kami maging matatag para sa mga taong nangangailangan," she said.

—Kaela Malig/JCB, GMA News