Pinay nurse in California shares struggles in battling COVID-19: 'We are the guinea pigs'

A Filipina nurse based in Victorville, California shared her frustrations and struggles as a health worker in the fight against the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.

In an interview with GMA News Online, Ophelia "Pingjo" Mamacos, who has worked as a Registered Nurse in Apple Valley since 2007, said they've been having a hard time adapting to the unprecedented situation.

"On our part, nakapahirap mag-adapt. There are times na iiyak ka na lang sa takot, not for yourself but for your loved ones," she said.

^{Photo courtesy of Pingjo Mamacos}

She was especially terrified in the beginning, because no one knew what they were fighting against yet. Because it was a new strain of coronavirus, health advisories about it tended to be contradictory.

"Walang may alam ano gagawin. It's a trial and error. At kaming mga nurses ang guinea pigs," she said.

She added, "Una sabi sa amin, 'Don't wear masks, you're making people get anxious with it.' Kasi naman ang mga naka-mask daw noon ay 'yuing may sakit lang. So iisipin ng mga tao may sakit ka."

However, after a week, COVID-19 cases started to rise, and everyone started panic-buying.

"Naubos lahat ng masks, toilet paper, hand sanitizers, lahat ng disinfectant," Pingjo recalled. "Walang natira sa ospital. We have to reuse our N95 masks, and our gowns."

And when they heard claims that the virus, which can be transmitted through droplets, is airborne, health workers were sent into a panic.

Pingjo said her hospital's Telemetry Unit, where she had been stationed prior to the pandemic, was turned into a COVID-19 Unit, half of which was dedicated to possible airborne risks.

"Then after three days, they changed it again kasi nawalan ng PPEs ang buong US, (droplet isolation rooms) na lang daw para hindi gumamit ng N95 mask ang mga nurses. We have to reuse our own gowns," she said.

She said she reused her N95 mask for 3 weeks, taking pains to disinfect it and hang it out under the sun.

^{Photo courtesy of Pingjo Mamacos}

As scary as it was in the beginning, Pingjo said as time passes, the more she's getting used to it. This has been her new reality for over four weeks now.

She is less scared now, and simply makes sure to follow all precautionary measures such as frequent hand washing and disinfecting everything she touches.

And while the United States is the hardest-hit country, with 61,717 deaths as of May 1, Pingjo takes comfort in the fact that the number of cases in California is not nearly as bad as New York, which has become the epicenter of the coronavirus in the US.

As of May 2, the California Department of Public Health reported 50,442 confirmed COVID-19 cases and 2,073 deaths. The San Bernardino County, where Pingjo is based, has 2,113 confirmed COVID-19 cases, and 94 deaths.

Pingjo is also relieved about the fact that not a single health worker in her hospital has been downed by the virus yet.

^{Photo courtesy of Pingjo Mamacos}

However, there is a different kind of impact on them.

"Emotional trauma at psychological trauma," she said. "'Yung iba, hindi na kaya. Some nurses quit their job lalo na 'yung mga sakitin at may edad na."

She reminds fellow health workers that although they all want to save as many people as they can, heroes also need to care for themselves too.

"Kung gusto ng mga nurses na mas marami silang mabubuhay na patients, tulungan muna nila mga sarili nila. Walang heroes na nagpapabaya sa sarili," she said.

Now, Pingjo is one of the positive forces in their hospital. She said she tries to cheer up her fellow COVID-19 nurses during this time of uncertainty and fear.

"We have to be positive all the time, kasi kung hindi, matatalo kami,."

—JCB, GMA News