by J Owen V. Lebaquin & Christian Angelo Miranda
To call the government to action amidst delayed benefits and protection of nurses' rights, the Philippine Nurses Association staged a virtual protest with the theme, "Pambansang Pagbubuklod at Panawagan ng mga Pinoy Narses" earlier today, September 1, via Zoom. More than 400 nursing leaders, researchers, practitioners, educators, and students from all over the country and different specialty organizations convened to share their grievances and concerns on the current state of the Philippine nursing practice and shedding light on current issues in the healthcare sector, such as delayed special risk allowances (SRA), meal, accommodation, transportation allowances (MAT), and staffing shortages, among others. “Bilang [isang] nurse ngayong pandemic, hindi lang doble ang trabaho natin ngayon, triple pa. Aside from that hindi lang yung physical na pagod ka, dagdag yung pagsusuot ng PPEs na sobrang init, at [pagiging] psychologically affected. Yung SG15 namin under the provincial government, wala pa rin po until now, kahit yung SRA, until now wala pa rin po.” remarked a Filipino nurse who shared his experience. According to the PNA, the COVID-19 pandemic has gotten to the point where nurses are burdened and burned out, becoming victims of COVID 19 themselves; at the same time, inaction in governance continues to damage the economy and health of the Filipino people. Former Board of Nursing member, Prof. Cora Anunuevo highlighted the importance of continuing to make noise through protests. “Ituloy ang ating laban, huwag matakot. Lakasan ang ating boses, lakasan pa ang ating boses, at iparamdam natin na ang ating numero, thousands of nurses, kailangan i-transform natin into one strong power. Ang ating benepisyo ay hindi talaga binibigay yan sa isang silver platter, kailangan natin ipaglaban. Forty years ago nasa kalye na ako, at kaya nga tayo nag uunion work noon dahil alam natin na kailangan natin ng malakas na base, base of masses or nurses who will continue the struggle….We must sustain our action, we must raise our voices, stronger and louder.” Prof. Anonuevo says. “Ang PNA po ay hindi titigil na ipaglaban ang karapatan ng mga Filipino nurses, saan man tayo dalhin ng pagkakataon at sitwasyon. Gagawain po namin ang lahat upang hindi po matapos sa araw na ito ang mga idinulog ninyo, at hindi masayang ang mga boses na narinig natin from the grassroots,” closed PNA President Melbert Reyes. At the end of the program, nurses were encouraged to utilize social media to voice out their protests, post their placards, and use the hashtags #UpholdTheNursesRights and #NursesUnite to bring a united voice and movement to the government.
Comments