Ready for Duty
The first time Nurse Kristine Joy Cardenas donned a PPE, she almost quit. The discomfort underlined the danger she had signed up for. Together with Dr. Mark Pasayan, she was among the first to respond to the needs of COVID-19 patients at Qualimed Sta Rosa
Words by YAEL BALLESTEROS
FOR ALL his medical studies and preparation, infectious disease specialist, Dr. Mark Pasayan never imagined he would be on the frontlines of the biggest health battle the Philippines has ever seen. “In 2018, I gave a talk on the 1918 Spanish flu. Never did I think that I would experience a pandemic as big as the Spanish flu in a couple of years.”
A graduate of the University of the Philippines College of Medicine who, most appropriately, had his fellowship training at the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM) admits he got into the field out of sheer curiosity. “It’s one specialty in internal medicine that is very investigative, very cerebral,” Mark says of his chosen field. “You need to determine the source of the infection, and you need to do it fast.”
““I knew we would be having trouble for the next weeks or months when we had 20 patients admitted in a single day.””
In 2018, Mark had joined the newly opened Qualimed Health Network, a partnership between Mercado General Hospital, Inc. (MGHI) and Ayala Land, Inc. (ALI), as an infectious disease specialist. Pasayan’s job has certainly become critical in the light of recent events. “I knew we would be having trouble for the next weeks or months when we had 20 patients admitted in a single day in several hospitals in the south, particularly Laguna and Batangas.”
In a timely response to the pandemic, Ayala Healthcare Holdings and Qualimed collaborated to convert the sleek Qualimed facility in Sta. Rosa City, Laguna into a full-scale coronavirus referral hospital, beginning last May 1.
Meanwhile, Mark also had to deal with his own fears, aggravated by his concern for his parents and three maternal aunts, all seniors, with whom he shared a home. “There was always the chance that I would get infected. I just kept reminding myself that I know what I’m doing, and I should not be afraid. But COVID-19 was really a game-changer.”
TEAM EFFORT. The Qualimed facility’s conversion into a full-scale coronavirus hospital was partially funded by different Ayala business units: Ayala Foundation, Ayala Land, BPI Foundation, AC Energy, Manila Water, Globe, IMI and AC Motors.
SAFETY ZONE. The triage tent follows strict social distancing and sanitation guidelines.
In 2018, Mark had joined the newly opened Qualimed Health Network, a partnership between Mercado General Hospital, Inc. (MGHI) and Ayala Land, Inc. (ALI). As an infectious disease specialist, Pasayan’s job has certainly become critical in the light of recent events. “I knew we would be having trouble for the next weeks or months when we had 20 patients admitted in a single day in several hospitals in the south, particularly Laguna and Batangas.”
Meanwhile, Mark also had to deal with his own fears, aggravated by his concern for his parents and three maternal aunts, all seniors, with whom he shared a home. “There was always the chance that I would get infected. I just kept reminding myself that I know what I’m doing, and I should not be afraid. But COVID-19 was really a game-changer.”
‘May pledge tayo’
Nurse Kristine Joy Cardenas had originally wanted to become an accountant, but followed the footsteps of her aunt instead. She graduated from Lorma Colleges in San Fernando, La Union and passed the nursing board examinations in December 2019. She applied and was accepted at Qualimed, and started work just last January 13, 2020.
Kristine Joy hesitated at first before accepting her very first assignment—in Area 19, which was dedicated to Covid-19 patients. “Nakikita kasi namin sa news at sobrang nakakatakot siya,” she says. “Tatlo kami noon na kakapasa pa lang sa board. Sabi ko, sige, punta na lang tayo, kasi may pledge tayo, nag-oath na tutulong tayo. Yung ibang nurses natatakot, kasi may pamilya sila at mga anak. So sabi namin, kung walang pupunta doon, walang mag-aalaga sa mga COVID-19 patients, so tayo na lang.”
““Yung ibang nurses natatakot, kasi may pamilya sila at mga anak. So sabi namin, kung walang pupunta doon, walang mag-aalaga sa mga COVID-19 patients, so tayo na lang.” ”
Kristine Joy spent three months in Area 19 without once seeing her family, doing 12-hour shifts, initially struggling to put on the bulky personal protective equipment (PPE), and enduring the suffocating heat. “Kasusuot mo pa lang, pinapawisan ka na,” she recalls. “Pero pagpasok mo sa room ng pasyente, nakikita mo talaga na there is sadness. So inisip ko na lang na bale wala yung init ng suot kong PPE compared doon sa nararamdaman ng pasyente.”
Do not be afraid or discouraged. The hospital gave patients cards to remind them that they were not alone.
Thus, it is always a welcome occasion when Mark and Kristine Joy are able to release patients after COVID-19 treatment. They even have pictures taken with the recovered patient—a small reward for these everyday heroes. As Ligaya says, “Yung pinaka-success para sa amin ay ang nakakapag-pagaling kami ng pasyente. Kahit mag-smile lang sa amin, ang sarap na ng feeling.” #
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