As one life is saved, another is lost. The work that the Office of the Vice President (OVP) took on when it launched its newest initiative, Bayanihan E-Konsulta, isn’t always ideal as one staff narrated the loss of a two-year-old in critical condition while they try to save a mother who was struggling to breathe.
It all happened in a single night.
Jill Campo-Javiniar, the head of the OVP’s Angat Buhay program, shared on a Facebook post about two contrasting stories they witnessed. Vice President Leni Robredo shared the post, too.
She posted a photo of the OVP’s EMT (emergency medical technicians) as they walked through a darkly lit street. The two-man team was on their way to the house of a mother who tested positive for COVID-19 a few days ago and was “struggling to breathe with a depleting oxygen tank and a steadily declining O2 sat.”
This was the first day of the OVP’s EMT, which it quietly launched to supplement the medical assistance it tries to provide to patients in need of critical medical care.
But although the EMT might be able to save a woman whose oxygen saturation level has dipped, Campo-Javiniar recognized the stark contrast of hope that this picture represents against another story.
“A few hours before this photo was taken, somewhere in another city, a 2 year old in critical condition we were helping to get transferred to another hospital didn’t make it. It was devastating to hear from her mom that the child didn’t survive,” she said.
“Everyday is an emotional roller coaster in the office and everyone is on heightened alert, with our boss Maam Leni taking the lead,” Campo-Javiniar added.
Robredo said they launched the Bayanihan E-Konsulta despite the challenges because they want to help decongest hospital facilities.
The free teleconsult service is extended to both COVID and non-COVID patients, although the vice president said they are overwhelmed by the number of people who have no access to medical advice and care and who do not have the money to pay for the tests they need.
She called it a failure of the system that should have ensured the quality of lives of Filipinos. She criticized the government for allegedly failing to give Filipinos a fighting chance against COVID-19.
But while she throws the criticisms and draws flak from internet trolls, her office works double-time to provide the critical medical care many Filipinos badly need.
“Everyday is another day for this tiny village at the OVP to try and extend a life,” Campo-Javiniar said.