Although the number of COVID-19 patients has decreased in some hospitals in Metro Manila, the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) has sent an additional nurse to help respond to the disease.
About 63 nurses will be deployed in public and private hospitals in Metro Manila. This is just the first batch of a total of 120 BFP nurses who volunteered to help with the COVID-19 response.
Among those who requested an additional health worker were Las Piñas Doctors Hospital, Manila Doctors Hospital, Novaliches District Hospital, Tondo Hospital, and San Juan Medical Center.
According to Dr. Gloria Balboa, director of the Department of Health (DOH) in the National Capital Region, although the number of COVID-19 cases has dropped in some hospitals, the additional nurses will be of great help.
“Ang ating mga health workers kailangan din magpahinga so kailangan may rotation ‘yan eh, siyempre nagpapagod sila, kailangan may papalit,” said Balboa.
“Calling din po sa trabaho namin bilang isang bombero na kahit saan man kami tawagin ng tungkulin, handa kaming gampanan ito,” said Fire Officer 1 Erickzon Mandronio, one of the volunteers.
BFP nurses sent to hospitals to assist in COVID-19 response
“Tinrain kami sa ganoong propesyon. May kaba, may takot pero kaya naman,” said Fire Officer 3 Dionathan Cuison.
The DOH and BFP have agreed that BFP nurses will receive additional hazard pay and compensation benefits.
The deployment of additional health workers in hospitals in Puerto Princesa City, Palawan, is also being studied due to the rising number of COVID-19 cases there.
The BFP ensured that their deployment would not be affected by fire incidents.
According to the Department of the Interior and Local Government, they will ensure that BFP nurses are vaccinated and subjected to the COVID-19 swab test before deployment.
Hospitals and regional offices of the Department of Health in other regions have previously sent health workers to Metro Manila.
COVID-19 cases have increased in the capital region and neighboring provinces in recent months, causing hospitals to be overcrowded and the need for additional health workers.
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