DEMORALIZED

I am counting my blessings everyday and keeping a positive attitude!

In the VSMMC EXECOM, Atty Panugaling always reminds us to do completed staffwork before presenting an item in the agenda. Last Monday, I was fairly confident that I had done my homework for most of the solutions I proposed to solve identified problems. Unfortunately, I didn't count on arguments from the other members. I guess this is a humbling experience, but an educational one as well.  I had to set additional meetings with stakeholders to rectify my mistake.

After getting rebuked last Monday, several meetings later, all departments and stakeholders agreed on how to make things work both to provide space for NICU babies and to maintain infection control within the OBOR. Yehey!

We proposed to transfer the COVID19 positive patients to the ICU. After much discussion, our proposal was approved - to give our critical patients a better fighting chance at survival, yipee!

At the end of the day, there just wasnt much energy left to deal with SOTTO LIVE but because this was our commitment, we plod on.

https://www.facebook.com/OfficialVSMMC/videos/1173762139660709/

MOST DRIVING CONCERNS DURING COVID-19 CRISIS

While the rest of the Philippines is now under general community quarantine (GCQ) or modified general community quarantine (MGCQ), Cebu City was ordered by President Rodrigo Duterte to remain under enhanced community quarantine (ECQ), the highest level of quarantine because of the high number of infected individuals and reports of hospitals being overwhelmed. The IATF even appointed a chief implementer, General Roy Cimatu to descend upon political leaders, health authorities and hospitals in Cebu to find out what is and what is not being done to respond to the crisis of COVID-19 in Cebu.

At that time, even doctors were blamed for the declaration of ECQ further preventing businesses from opening, and strict implementation of quarantine and border controls limiting the movement of people for economic activities. With no opportunity to recoup losses, companies were forced to lay off employees and unemployment rates went up. Memes were out in full force on social media ridiculing healthcare workers for "killing people" since they don't have income to support their basic needs. Other issues centered on the "missing chickens" where generous corporate donors provided dressed chickens which barangay constituents never received. Others compared notes regarding the social amelioration program (SAP) of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) which was not equitably distributed. With a generation of millenials not used to being cooped up at home, many were restless and experienced cabin fever. Some had it worse, needing mental health couselling and psychiatric evaluation. Political leaders were lambasting medical critics of the remedies they promoted like steam inhalation. There seems to be no central command, everything in utter chaos.

With all these happening around us, many still needing to stay at home to stay safe, stay healthy and stay alive - we stop and reflect on the most pressing concerns during this COVID-19 crisis. Is it about food, water, shelter and sense of being useful to society? Is it basically staying away from the SARS CoV2 virus by shutting yourself at home? Is it about peace and order and prevention of domestic violence? Is it a balance between preventing transmission of COVID-19 by protecting the vulnerable and allowing economic activities to support those who are quarantines and sick in the hospitals?

Trust His Heart

Comforting words from a friend and confidante:

There's a text in the Bible in the book of Job where he says, "the Lord gives and the Lord takes away. Blessed be the name of the Lord" Job said that after he lost all his riches, including his household in just one day.

Sometimes when God allows us to go through pain and suffering, it is because He is preparing us for something better. It is very hard to see it at this point but in time, everything will come to light.

There's this Christian song that runs this way... "God is too wise to be mistaken, God is too good to be unkind. When you don't understand, when you can't see his hand, trust His heart.

I hope you will find that comfort, Doc Helen. You are a good person, somebody i always look up to. And you deserve something good in your life.

Good night. Sleep well.

06142020 - Things happen for a reason. We trust in God's greater plan.

REDESIGNING SOCIETY TO ADAPT TO THE NEW NORMAL DURING COVID-19

Experience with the enhanced community quarantine was difficult as it suddenly limited our movements and scared us to closing doors to our neighbors and staying home to cut off the risk of transmission of this invisible enemy.

Cebu City was one of the cities in the Philippines with a lot of COVID-19 positive cases and we tried our best to cope with aggressive community testing vis a vis hospital-based testing for severe and critically symptomatic patients.  We also see during this time all the innovative changes to adapt to challenges posed by the risk of transmission of COVID-19.  We also see teamwork, unity and the caring communities of volunteers and donors.


As some of the communities in the Philippines reopen to resume economic activities, there is a need to redesign society to adapt to the "NEW NORMAL" for as long as the threat of transmission of COVID-19 is still there. We hear about ECQ, GCQ and MGCQ in the news, classification of which should be based on epidemiology of COVID-19 in the localities. Under the revised guidelines of the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID), an area can be considered as under the "new normal" if the community quarantine implemented has transitioned into modified general community quarantine (MGCQ) which is the most relaxed community quarantined implemented by the government.

The Department of Health has already issued Department Memorandum 2020-0220 on interim guidelines on return-to-work which companies have started reviewing to comply for reopening and resuming work activities. There are a lot of aspects in society to be considered for the "new normal" include education, agriculture, industry, corporate world, tourism and recreation.

Amid all these preparations to reopen societies, Europol warns the public in every country in Europe to protect your children, house, finances and data now that confinement measures are starting to relax.

What is your definition of the new normal?

What is the role and impact of social media on day to day activities for the new normal?
What are your suggestions for redesigning our communities and work places to adapt to the new normal?

The Cost of COVID19

Today we discharged and sent off the very first COVID-19 patient we admitted at the Emerging Re-Emerging Infectious Disease (EREID) Unit of our hospital.  This patient was a 53 year old flower vendor who lived a simple life with their family in the mountain barangays of Cebu City.  Faced with a mild stroke, hypertension-related heart problems and diabetes mellitus, this patient inspires us with her determination to live and beat COVID-19.  Her daughter's sacrifices waiting and "living" just outside her mother's isolation room for 37 days was equally awe-inspiring.  The love of a daughter for her mother, epitomizing the saying "believing without seeing" and riding on faith.

The family reunion is poignant and beautiful.  The family thought they would not be the patient again, knowing she was intubated and in critical condition.  Today her requested song reflects how we feel:

"Now look at me
Yes, a different me
Back on my feet again
I'm not afraid to face the world again
Cause you taught me how to be strong
You made me live again"

During the FB LIVE on Mental Health Check: Resilience and Coping Strategies, we discussed witj our Finance and Management Officer Ms Maureen Bien all about the actual cost of getting sick of COVID19 and how the government and the donors and volunteers help patients tremendously during these catastrophic events, and how staying at home to prevent COVID-19 transmission can really save the government a lot of money!

COVID-19 Chronicles

We are now on our Season 2 of the VSMMC FB LIVE and I realized that it has been a long time since I first made my video on information how to prevent transmission of COVID-19, even struggling with the Cebuano dialect.  My tongue felt like it was twisted and turned and my head was spinning doing translation as fast as my mouth could form the words...  This was BEFORE the first community quarantine and I was in Palawan, attending the IHAC orientation by the Bureau of International Health Coordinators. We shot the video using my cellphone on the balcony of our hotel room.

Now I realized that a lot has happened since then and I wasn't even able to write anything to document the experience.

Therefore, I aim to write my realizations and challenges of each day as we fight to survive this pandemic.

Stay safe!
Stay healthy!
Stay informed!

Social Media in the Time of COVID-19

The Coronavirus is No 1918 Pandemic

Remembering how the great flu pandemic in 1918 cost the lives of 100 million lives worldwide, we look at how more equipped we are in handling this novel coronavirus outbreak.

DOH announces 6th confirmed case of COVID-19

As of March 7, 2020, the Philippine Department of Health recommended to President Duterte the declaration of a public health emergency as it confirmed local transmission with the announcement of the 6th confirmed case of COVID-19 in the Philippines.

Updates on Novel Corona Virus Disease (COVID-19)

Data on Daily Global Situation as of March 6, 2020 show that there have been 98,192 confirmed cases with 2,873 new cases.  In China, 80,711 confirmed with 146 new cases.  Outside China, there have been 17,481 confirmed with 2,727 new cases.

Responsible sharing of information

Secretary Duque also appealed for responsible sharing of information, that all healthcare providers, institutions and stakeholders to exercise prudence in sharing sensitive information, balancing public health and safety thru contact tracing while ensuring individual rights to privacy.

Here is a reminder for professional behavior on social media.  Negativism, outright ranting and complaints serves no purpose in addressing the identified health problem.

With all hands on deck, let us discuss the roles and responsibilities of each healthcare provider, institutions, stakeholders and the general public in preventing the spread of COVID-19.

T1. How has COVID-19 affected society today?

T2.  In what ways can we help efforts in controlling the epidemic?

T3.  What is the role of social media in addressing the spread of COVID-19 considering the announcement of local transmission in the Philippines?