Valenzuela doctor annoyed with herself for contracting COVID-19

A 29-year-old doctor who contracted the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) at the frontlines of the pandemic said she was annoyed with herself for getting infected.

According to Corrine Catibayan's Monday report on 24 Oras, Dr. Mayoline Quilang, who worked at the Valenzuela Medical Center, said she got infected after attending to COVID-19 patients.

When she developed a cough, sore throat, and body aches, Quilang decided to get tested last March 26. The test came back positive for the illness.

She cried over the test results, not because she was sick, but because she would not be able to help her COVID-positive patients, at least for a while.

“Ako po ‘yong doktor, dapat ako ‘yong pinaka last na taong magkaroon ng COVID so ako mismo, ‘di ko naprotektahan sarili ko,” Quilang said. “Iyak ako kaunti, saglit lang kasi ang aga aga pa, ‘di na ako makakatulong."

“Umalis akong doktor, pagbalik ko, pasyente na ako. Ako na ‘yong iniinsertan ng IV, ako na ‘yong minomonitor, ako na ‘yong pinapasukan nila ng naka-full PPE sila,” she said.

“‘Yong mga nurses na dati kong inuutusan, nag-carry out ng doctor’s order, ako na ngayon inaalagaan,” she added.

But after 29 days of battling the disease, Quilang was finally discharged last April 27.

For Quilang, being a doctor in the middle of a pandemic was difficult, but her family, friends, and prayers gave her the strength to do what needed to be done.

She added that she looked forward to returning to the hospital floor once she finishes her 14-day quarantine.

“Ime-maintain ko po health ko, iinom ng vitamins, mage-exercise, iinom ng water tapos ang gagawin ko pag nasa ER ako, poprotektahan ko na po talaga sarili ko,” Quilang said. — Ma. Angelica Garcia/DVM, GMA News