By: Jet and Jake

When Angels are in need of saving, they don’t call for the Avengers or the Justice League; they call for Midwives and Nurses.

The world has faced disarray since news of a pandemic-causing virus broke out in Wuhan, China. We were all taken by surprise, unprepared for a phenomenon that will change the history of epidemiology especially in the aspects of medical and contingency management. This has posed a challenge to the general population leaving most helpless when in need of medical attention due to refusal of admission, not because of the hospitals’ fear of contracting the disease, but rather, a shortage in healthcare workers caused by attrition, quarantine and loss to death. We had been battling SARS-COV-2 (COVID-19) since its emergence in January, becoming a worldwide pandemic by March and a new medical phenomenon in the present times. With the continuous influx of patients in public institutions with varied complaints and health issues, the system almost crumbled with the depletion of resources: supplies, medicines, personal protective equipments and most importantly, manpower.

Patients like the pregnant women in the community have been greatly affected since the prenatal and delivery facilities have slowly closed down.

In September 2020, the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) collaborated with the Philippine Society for Responsible Parenthood (PSRP) to support the DOH Regional Office in Western Visayas in establishing OB-GYN Triage Tents in various facilities and locations in the Province of Iloilo and Bacolod City. The aim is to augment the shortage of health service providers for OB-GYN wards in referral hospitals and to ensure that women and adolescent girls access life-saving maternal and sexual and reproductive health services especially in this time of COVID crisis.

The OB-GYN Tents were launched in the middle of September 2020 in three DOH Facilities in Iloilo City and Iloilo Province namely: (1) Western Visayas Medical Center WVMC – Iloilo City, (2) Western Visayas Sanitarium and General Hospital – Santa Barbara, Iloilo Province, and (3) Don Jose Monfort Medical Center Extension Hospital (DJMMCEH) – Barotac Nuevo, Iloilo Province. One month after, in the middle of October 2020, an OB-GYN Tent was launched at the City Health Office in Bacolod City, Negros Occidental.

…We have been sheltering Angels, and saving Moms too!

In the brief span time that the OB-GYN Tents have been operational in the three facilities in Iloilo alone, over three thousand pregnant women have already been catered to this date. In a little more than a month, the tent has been of great use and aide to meet the patients’ sexual and reproductive health needs. The forecast may have been a little shortsighted than the actual number of pregnant women in need of medical attention during pregnancy, yet the program has been providing all around maternal healthcare services ranging from prenatal care to delivery and referral once needed. These are not possible without our nurses and midwives who have hearts big enough to fit the totality of the pregnant woman’s needs entrusted to their care. Catching angels and saving moms despite the risk posed by COVID 19 pandemic.

It is with utmost gratitude and pleasure that we spotlight our heroes with high commendations and salute! Hence, we present to you, our midwives and nurses from each facility:

Bacolod City Health Office, Bacolod City, Negros Occidental
(Alphabetical Order): Maria Lou S. Alib, RM; Ma. Kristina Dian L. Antipatia, RN; Mary Rose L. Candelario, RN; Jay Mae P. Ejusa, RM; Contessa M. Gabriel, RN, RM, MAN, Ed.D, Ned.D; Gisselle A. Lamprea, RM; Reigel Liegh E. Montero, RN; Vincent S. Muyco, RM; Gwyn Mae Joy L. Quisio, RM; Louvelene Joy O. Villar, RN

Don Jose Monfort Memorial Center Extension Hospital, Barotac Nuevo, Iloilo Province
(Alphabetical Order): Rosebel Alagada, RM; Dionice Belasa, RN; Esperanza Bonaobra, RM, RN; Leny Cornelia, RN; Sarah Jane Garcia, RM; Hazel Dianne Ibarra, RN; Joyce Labaro, RM; Jarlyn Jade Pamitan, RN

Western Visayas Medical Center, Iloilo City
(Alphabetical Order): Ma. Cristine Alosa, RM; Ma. Sheera Bangero, RN; Clarisse Marie Bayhon – Jones, RM; Princess Joy Diana, RM; Khristine Claire Diosalan, RN; Sheena Duller, RM; Kriss Vladimir Homena, RN; Kristel Mateo, RN; Julie Ann Monjuan, RM; Rachelle Lucille Velasco, RN.

Western Visayas Sanitarium Hospital, Sta.Barbara, Iloilo Province
(Alphabetical Order): Chris Joy Aranjuez, RM; Christine G. Calvario, RN; Vicente Celestial, RM; Jasmin Garcia, RM, RN; Shieryl Marcon, RM; Jlyn Pedroso, RN; Antonette Marie Solinap, RN; Camelle Superio-Dagle, RM; Irene Souribio, RM.

It is high time to say Thank You to these unsung Heroes! Share their story.

You can Read the Project Report Here.