Johnas M. Silang – Nurse, Ulster Hospital in Northern Island-UK
FEU-IN Batch 2011
Covid 19 created such a significant impact in my life to the extent that my well being is so much challenge. But I know, like me, many people are confronting different kinds of crisis, and we can get through this in God’s name.
I’ve been here in the UK for about two years and six months now, and my life significantly shifted from what I do way back in the Philippines. I was an Infection Prevention Control Nurse (IPCN) before in Capitol Medical Center, a private hospital in Quezon City, and now a Staff Nurse in an Orthopedic Ward.
When the COVID19 spreads out in Asia and other European countries, it has been a talk of the town every day. It brought too much stress and worries to the nursing staff and many people. I know this is a serious matter, but at first, I was at ease because I was working in a well equipped or designed facility, and I have ideas on IPCN. I was confident of our NHS – the governing body for health services aside from their DOH and seeing the low number of mortality rates in the affected countries.
But this confidence is short live as COVID19 became uncontrollable. WHO officially declared it as a global Pandemic. As of this writing, United Kingdom cases surge up to 98,476 tested positive and still increasing.
Fear spreads quickly due to social media. Hearing covid related news from the Philippines is very stressful. It worries us so much also seeing reports of Filipinos and other health workers all over Great Britain getting infected by the virus – and dying. Racism and discrimination made matter worst and has been far contagious. People tend to look for someone to blame. Even I was not able to dodge this form of abuse not only in the workplace, shops but also in the pathways because of my semblance to a Chinese national.
BE BRAVE – our motto, which I brought here in the UK together with the values I learned from of FEU. It guides me in fighting and standing up always for patient and staff safety. I was very vocal in providing insights to Filipino Nurses and teams working directly with COVID19 patients.
The majority of British people are very appreciative to its health workers and to Filipinos as well. Aside from patients, thank you gestures, every Thursday at 8:00 PM, they would clap their hands and cheer for Nurses, Doctors and NHS Staff working in this crisis. Even the Queen, Prime Ministers, and all other leaders and people of the media would show great appreciation and boost our morale. A culture that we should also embrace and practice as Filipino.
The majority of British people were very appreciative to its health workers and to us Filipinos as well. Aside from patients thank you gestures, every Thursday of 8:00 PM they clap their hands and cheer for every nurse, Doctors, and NHS Staff working in this crisis. This includes the Queen, Prime Ministers, and all other leaders, and people of the media shown great appreciation and boost our morale. A culture that we should also embrace and practice as Filipino.