Medical frontliners still lack PPEs, says nursing association exec

The lack of personal protective equipment is still a challenge faced by the country’s medical frontliners in their fight against COVID-19, according to an official of the Philippine Nurses Association on Tuesday.

“Hindi pa rin [sapat] kasi kung titignan sa buong Pilipinas, napakarami po ng hospitals so ilan ang mga nurses na nagtatrabaho and hindi lang naman sila ang naka PPE, pati doktor at tsaka iba pang health care workers na directly involved sa pag-aalaga ng mga pasyente,” PNA national president Rosie De Leon said in an interview on Dobol B sa News TV.

While she is overwhelmed by the many PPE donations from generous individuals around the country, De Leon said they were still not enough because most of the donations were reusable PPEs.

De Leon said disposable PPEs are more advisable to use.

“‘Yong mga [reusable] kasi hindi na ginagamit kaagad kasi hindi puwedeng gamitin muna kasi aayusin pa, idi-disinfect pa. Mahirap ‘yong aftercare,” she said.

“Mas maganda and mas advisable ang disposable PPE,” De Leon added.

De Leon also noted that hazard pay and other benefits are important for health care workers.

She added that the PNA is always in touch with its nurses regarding their concerns amid the pandemic.

Moreover, De Leon said eight nurses already succumbed to COVID-19 in the line of duty, while more than 600 tested positive for the virus. — Ma. Angelica Garcia/BM, GMA News