May Parsons, the Filipino nurse who first administered the Covid-19 vaccine dose in the world, urged the government to give Filipino nurses the salary and benefits they deserve.
Parsons visited on Monday, Aug. 22, the University of Santo Tomas, where she earned her nursing degree in 2000.
“Kung gusto niyo po silang mag-stay dito, be fair, hindi naman po kami nagahahanap ng paespesyal na trato. Ang kailangan lang po namin is fairness and equity (If you want them to stay here, be fair. We are not seeking special treatment. What we need are fairness and equity),” she said.
“Kung ang mga nurses ay wala sa ospital, wala pong mag-aalaga sa mga kamag-anak ninyo, walang mag-aalaga sa inyo. Anong mangyayari sa atin? (If the nurses are not in the hospital, no one will take care of your relatives, no one will take care of you. What will happen to us?),” she pointed out.
Parsons also urged the government to create a governing body that will ensure that all Filipino nurses are getting enough pay just like in the UK.
“My advice is to have somebody to review and be sure that somebody is accountable in ensuring that we are being paid the amount that we deserve. It has to be at a level that is in accordance with the cost of living,” she said.
Parsons believes that giving Filipino health workers a fair treatment would help in preventing them from leaving the country.
“Hindi po natin sila masisisi kung aalis po sila kasi hindi nagbabago ang buhay nila. (We can't blame them if they decide to leave because their lives have not changed) It just gets worse,” she said.
“Kung hindi po ninyo sila papahalagahan by giving the right salary or making them feel valued, parang hindi niyo po sila papahalagahan o aalagaan, hindi po sila mag-iistay (If you don't honor them by giving the right salary or making them feel valued, or like you don't appreciate them or take care of them, they won't stay),” the Filipino nurse added.
Parsons worked at the UST hospital from 2000 to 2003 before joining the National Health Service (NHS).
She was the first nurse to administer the Covid-19 vaccine on December 8, 2020.
Parsons was also recently bestowed the prestigious George Cross award in the United Kingdom last July.
The George Cross is the highest civilian award granted by the British government “for acts of gallantry of the greatest heroism or of the most conspicuous courage in circumstances of extreme danger.”