Asking help

This time it is the doctors of Negros Oriental who are seeking help from higher officials to place their province under Enhanced Community Quarantine. While we are so busy here trying to even out the situation, our neighboring province is at the peak of losing it all. The reports came in that most of their hospitals are already reaching their maximum capacity. That being said, they are unable to take in more patients especially those who are being treated for COVID. The scenario sounds very familiar as we, in Cebu, went through this at a different time.

I still remember how hard it was to get admission for a simple illness. Everyone thought that going near the hospital would already make you infected with the virus. I, for one, did not want to go anywhere near the doors of the hospitals that were specializing in treating COVID patients. The sight of the triage outside was already making me sick, the virus got to my head and I'm sure that a lot of us also went through the same trauma. It is the same horror in Negros Oriental today. Their medical practitioners are waving the white flag, they want to buy time and they need to breathe. If this isn't granted, they are scared of losing more patients. It would be a disaster.

This also happened in the National Capital Region where doctors lifted their hands in surrender in this harsh fight. They, who are at frontlines, know so well what is going on inside. With the transmission rate rapidly increasing, our enemy might just be ahead of us. I don't know what is going to happen from here onwards to Negros Oriental but maybe reinforcements will be on their way.

What could have contributed to this surge? Well, there are many factors that could be considered if we liken it to what happened in Cebu. One thing is for sure, we weren't keen enough to protect ourselves against the transmission. That means there was some complacency in between the weeks that went by. I wouldn't blame them for the freedom that they want. But maybe it is more than just the freedom granted, it is being too loose and mobility is high.

If the doctors' call to put the province back to ECQ will be granted then a lot of livelihoods will be affected. The province, just like others, just got back on its feet. They would have to be crippled again when stricter measures are implemented. Yet the province needs it, the doctors need it, we all need it for a safer region.

I'd have to postpone my long-scheduled visit to Negros Oriental, which I consider my second home. I hope that they can slow down the transmission before it gets to a larger number of people. Let's give help when we can.