SLH nurses seek relief from work overload

MANILA, Philippines — Six months into the epidemic, a group of nurses from the San Lazaro Hospital (SLH), one of the country’s referral centers for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), on Friday sought relief from work overload.

In a statement, the Filipino Nurses United (FNU) said that 40 frontliners at the hospital – doctors, nurses and administrative personnel – have been infected with the virus.

“We were trained to handle infectious diseases for decades but apparently we are now becoming the victims …. We demand protection to save our lives,” the group said.

The FNU said the hospital’s services are being “jeopardized” by the limited number of staff, resulting in too much physical, emotional and mental exhaustion.”

According to the group, they also had to contend with shortage of supplies of personal protective equipment; 12-hour shifts; limited transportation and accommodation; insufficient stress debriefing among the staff assigned to COVID-19 patients; receiving an unjust salary and unfair implementation of hazard pay.

“We are facing the most dangerous fight in our lifetime. We are fully aware and committed to our sworn duties and responsibilities, to the point that we are facing the highest risks of this pandemic,” FNU added.

It was SLH that handled the three Chinese tourists who became the country’s first three COVID-19 cases in January.