Medical front liners are our first line of defense in this time of the pandemic. They provide health services to patients not only to those who are experiencing severe symptoms of COVID-19, but also that of other people who need medical attention. Because of this, our health care workers are highly at-risk. In fact, no one is spared. Even those providing care - doctors, nurses, and other allied medical health professionals become infected by the virus and sadly, some even lose the battle.

2021 has been designated as the International Year of Health and Care Workers (YHCW) to give appreciation and gratitude to our medical front liners in their unwavering dedication in continuously battling against the COVID-19 virus. World Health Organization is launching a year-long campaign, under the theme – Protect. Invest. Together. It highlights the urgent need to invest in health workers for shared dividends in health, jobs, economic opportunity, and equity which entails in ensuring appropriate protection and condition of work and it calls for additional investments in health and care workers’ education and employment.

With this year’s theme, they are calling for the policymakers and stakeholders to listen to the voices of health workers and to give support and action to ensure that all health and care workforces are supported, protected, motivated, and equipped to always deliver safe health care. They also needed to be safer, healthier, and more prepared to end the COVID-19 pandemic, prevent future disease outbreaks, and ensure access to essential services for their communities. 

The COVID-19 pandemic and other global emergencies show us once again the heroic efforts of health workers on the front lines make every day to keep their communities—and the world—safe and healthy. We can help them in fighting the virus through observing the minimum health protocol, it is not just for them but for us as well. They are our superheroes in these trying times and indeed, not all superheroes wear capes, others wear personal protection equipment.

(AVETP)

References:

Listen to Health Workers by IntraHealth International. Accessed from: https://www.frontlinehealthworkers.org/world-health-worker-week

Year of the Health and Care Workers 2021 by World Health Organization. Accessed from: https://www.who.int/campaigns/annual-theme/year-of-health-and-care-workers-2021

World Health Worker Week by Departmental News of World Health Organization (2 April 2020). Accessed from: https://www.who.int/news/item/02-04-2020-world-health-worker-week-2020