By CONG B. CORRALES
Associate Editor

PUBLIC support for the frontliners in efforts by the state-run Northern Mindanao Medical Center (NMMC) to contain the 2019 novel coronavirus (Covid-19) and prevent it from further spreading started to trickle in last week and city hall called for more if only to boost the morale of the hospital’s workers.

City hall’s appeal for public support for the NMMC frontliners came at the heels of reports that some of the hospital’s workers were treated like outcasts outside their workplace after one patient tested positive for Covid-19 last week. The patient died on Friday night.

DISINFECT. A worker from the City Health Office sprays disinfectant in one city hall office Saturday as the local government moves to keep its facilities clean. About 50 teams have been fielded by Mayor Oscar Moreno to sanitize public markets, bus stations, seaport, churches and public places where people congregate. (photo by Jigger J. Jerusalem)

For instance, some motorela drivers refused to give nurses and other health workers a ride when they realized they were from the state-run hospital.

“Ako na lang gipangingnan ang medical staff nga sa hospital na lang mag-ilis. Dili lang sa sila mag-uniform,” NMMC chief Dr. Jose Chan told reporters on Saturday.

But despite the bad treatment, others showed their appreciation for the NMMC frontliners who have been taking great risks to keep the virus from spreading.

The gestures, according to Chan, would boost the morale of NMMC’s health workers.

A Coffee Bean branch near NMMC, for instance, offered hospital workers free coffee.

“Naa ra man na sa atbang sa hospital. Pasalamat ko sa ila. Unta naa puy muhatag og itulak sa kape,” Chan said in jest.

On Friday, Andreya restaurant posted on its Facebook page offered to give free breakfast to NMMC workers on duty from 10 pm to 6 am, especially nurses, as the establishment’s show of support to the “medical people who are the front liners in this worldwide fight against Covid.”

Reads Andreya’s offer: “Simply present your NMMC ID and a copy of your night shift schedule. Redemption must be on the same day, right after your shift... We are one with you in this fight.”

City administrator Teodoro Sabuga-a called for more public support for NMMC. He urged establishments in the city to do the same thing so that the hospital workers would not feel alone as they work day and night to safeguard public health.

“Tabangan nato nga ma-boost ang morale nila,” Sabuga-a said.