Taguig 2nd District Rep. Lani Cayetano aired her concerns over the treatment of healthcare workers in the country, saying each one of them is constantly exposed to the novel coronavirus and need to be protected.
“Ang bawat isa sa kanila ay may constant exposure sa virus na ito. At ‘wag din natin sanang kalimutan na may pamilya silang inuuwian,” Cayetano said in an interview with DWSR RMN-Daet on August 30, National Heroes’ Day.
(Being constantly exposed to the virus, we shouldn’t forget that they [health workers] have families to go home to.)
“Papasok yan sa mga ospital, magtatrabaho, mapapagod, mag-oovertime, magugutom, lahat ng exposure haharapin nila,” she added.
(They have to go to hospitals to work, they’ll eventually get tired, and even do overtime work. In all aspects of their routine, they are always exposed to risks.)
Cayetano said this was one of the reasons she and former House Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano, along with their allies in the Balk sa Tamang Serbisyo (BTS) sa Kongreso, sent a letter to the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases urging that healthcare workers be given booster/additional vaccine shots.
She said lack of foresight could result in paralyzed hospital operations if healthcare workers are not given an added blanket of protection.
“Itong [proposal] natin sa IATF ay paghiling na, ngayon pa lang kaaga, paghandaan na po natin na ating maproteksyunan ang ating mga health workers at immunocompromised sa pagbibigay po ng booster shots sa kanila,” she said.
(Our proposal hopes to answer for contingencies and to add another layer of protection to health workers and immunocompromised persons by giving booster shots this early).
Cayetano said she hopes the IATF will heed their proposal to preempt foreseeable problems when it comes to the COVID-19 response.
“Ayaw natin na kung kailan nandyan na sa mukha natin ang problema, ‘tsaka tayo magsasabi ng ‘sana pala’….Kailangan maging praktikal at gamitin po natin ang pag-iisip mag-advance,” she said.
(We don’t want to see the day when we’ll regret not having taken care of our healthcare workers earlier on. We have to be practical and think in advance.)
Cayetano said in Taguig City, the local government has continually supported healthcare workers throughout the pandemic.
“Sa abot ng makakaya namin sa Taguig, sinisikap natin na sa pagdating sa mga benepisyo sa pag-aalaga sa frontliners, updated tayo dyan,” she said.
(As long as we can provide for them, we will keep updating the benefits of medical front liners as a way to protect and care for them).
