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Philippine Health Workers Battle Coronavirus, Harassment

VOA News

   When Philippine health workers end their daily hospital shifts, they
   trade the risks of COVID-19 for the risks that they could have bleach
   thrown in their faces or be chased from public areas.

   Many workers report they are being evicted from homes, refused rides on
   buses, and kicked out of restaurants as their fellow citizens worry
   about coming into contact with them and contracting the ailment caused
   by the coronavirus.

   Critics say the disregard goes all the way to the top, with President
   Rodrigo Duterte saying these health professionals are "lucky" to die
   for the nation, even as he condemns the discrimination.

   The Department of Health has said it would investigate the treatment of
   health workers. And the capital city of Manila has approved an
   ordinance outlawing discrimination against workers and COVID-19
   patients. The recently approved ordinance calls for a fine of nearly
   $100 and six months in prison.

   "We are receiving reports of our health care workers around the country
   being attacked physically, including being thrown bleach and splashed
   with chlorine," the department said in a statement. "Additionally,
   there are reports of health care workers being refused access to basic
   services such as public transport and laundry, blocked and fined at
   checkpoints and evicted from their homes."

   In February, the Philippines became the first nation to report a death
   from COVID-19 outside of China, where it first emerged. Since then, the
   virus has spread to infect 3,764 people in the Southeast Asian nation,
   leading to nearly 180 deaths at last report and threatening to
   overwhelm the health care system.

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