The WHO shares that the latest surge in COVID-19 cases is driven by the newest variant called Omicron. For Cebu, this will be our 4th surge, the 4th season of the COVID-19 pandemic response. After three (3) surges, it seems we are still taken by surprise as each surge has its own unique challenges. During the first surge, the challenge was dealing with an unknown unseen enemy and the economic impact of enhanced community quarantines, sparking talks about balancing between health and economy. By the second surge, we knew more about managing COVID-19 and we had less mortalities, but our hospitals were still overwhelmed with patients and infection control nightmares. We also had to focus on the mental health of our healthcare workers and the isolation of people disconnected from their families. The 3rd surge was driven by the Delta variant which coined the term "happy hypoxics" because targetting the lower respiratory tract, the patients had no symptoms and were unaware that their oxygen saturation levels were already low. This caused delay in seeking consultation. Hence, we needed more COVID-19 intensive care unit (ICUs), mechanical ventilators, high flow nasal cannulas and cardiac monitors. The strategy then was for our infectious disease specialists and pulmonologists to capacitate the district and provincial hospitals to manage severe and critical COVID-19 for improved survival.
This 4th surge driven by Omicron variant, we see most patients admitted in hospitals for reasons other than COVID-19 then incidentally testing positive for COVID-19. The challenge is the rapid increase in the number of healthcare workers testing positive for COVID-19, unable to work, presents the threat of hospitals and medical facilities closing down.
In the case of obstetrics, our maternal and perinatal statistics show that there are many more patients dying of pregnancy-related complications rather than due to COVID-19. It is therefore important that the right patients continue to have access to the right facility at the right time, and for hospitals and medical facilities to remain open to provide essential healthcare services amidst the COVID-19 surge.
In the context of hospitals and medical facilities closing down due to manpower issues with healthcare workers getting infected with COVID-19, how do we ensure continuous provision of essential healthcare services?
T1. Share the COVID-19 situation in your area. What is the Omicron COVID-19 surge like for you?
T2. As a patient, what healthcare services would you deem as essential and life-saving?
T3. What strategy would you suggest to ensure delivery of essential healthcare services amidst the COVID-19 surge?
