Congratulations, TaRSIER 117!
Where can we find the Hippocratic creed in this age of Covid!
TaRSIER is an acronym for Telephone and Radio System Integrated Emergency Response. In this regard, I still have to thank the nurse of TaRSIER 117 for waiting for more than 5 hours for a drunken patient who figured in a vehicular accident in my hometown, Baclayon, on Wednesday, September 9.
On that night, a nurse of TaRSIER 117 called me up telling me that our reliable plumber, carpenter, mason, etc rolled into one, met an accident – a vehicular accident for that matter. The accident happened in that area fronting the big church of my town. He was on his way to the baluarte sa Baclayon. He was with the husband of my niece and both wanted to continue and culminate their drinking spree. Ilang gipili ang daplin sa dagat atbang sa simbahan nga daku nga maoy ilang paga-imnan. Ug didto nagdala sila ug pipila ka mga botelya sa beer nga matud pa nila maoy “panghinawnaw” sa ilang pag-inum. Ug kay hubog man lagi, sa ilang pag-adto sa dapit nga ilang paga-imnan mibangga ug 4-wheel drive nga sakyanan. The immediate response of TaRSIER 117 brought them to the hospital. .
I hate drunkenness and the mga palahubog are the most selfish persons I could think of. Pardon my frankness but I am firm with what I am saying. Kining mga palahubog, mga hakug nga mga tawo. They think only of themselves. They don’t realize that a lot of people will be dragged into the misfortune because of their “passion” for drinking.
Ug daghan pa ko ug salapi, maayo gyud unta i-tukod ug tambalanan (hospital) alang lang sa mga palahubog. Ug niining panahon sa Covid, ang maong tambalanan sa mga palahubog kinahanglan anha itukod haduol sa sam-ang (sementeryo) aron mokamang na sila didto kung “hapit” na sila nga makighimamat ni kamatayon.
Anyway, they were brought by the TaRSIER frontliners to four hospitals that I wish to call as: hospital a, hospital h, hospital c, and hospital p. The two were rejected by all of these four hospitals. The TaRSIER nurse updated me every step of the way and every detail of the “trip” to the hospital. Was it my misfortune or my destiny that among all the different names found in the mobile phone of one of the accident victims, it was my number who answered the nurse? Yes, I was the only one who answered the TaRSIER nurse who alerted me about the accident.
In all hospitals the accident victims went to, no emergency measure was applied. Since they were rejected by hospital h, they went to hospital c. Many conditions were set: P5,000 deposit, nearest of kin, and more. The wife of the other victim and her brother tried their best to produce the amount. Naningkamot gyud sila na maka kuha ug P5,000 ug ang kinadu-ulan nga paryente, nearest of kin, nga maoy motanod.
One pag-umangkon went to the hospital and produced P5,000. That was past 2 in the morning. Another nearest of kin from Baclayon was requested to go the hospital to act as tanod sa pasyene only to realize that they were denied admission.
So the group proceeded to the Celestino Gallares Memorial Hospital which we commonly call as provincial hospital hoping against hope that they would be admitted as patients. Wala sila gihapon dawata kay Covid lage.
Maayo gani kay nahuwasan ang hubog – mimata – gustong motimbakuwas – apan dili pa kaya sa lawas. A little later, with God’s Divine Hands, his vital signs became normal and surprisingly good. They were told to go home at 3 in the morning.
My niece and her brother had to brave through the night until mid dawn in their motorcycle just to come to the rescue. As they were headed for Baclayon, they motorcycle engine suddently stopped. Nahutdan sa gasoline. Indeed, when it rains, it pours. Thank you to the Good Samaritan in Sta Cruz, Baclayon who gave them enough gas to go back to and from Tagbilaran.
I have yet to thank the nurse of TaRSIER 117 and the driver of the TaRSIER van who waited for more than 5 hours for the patient just to see him through the any hospital that never was. And thank you also to the ambulance of Baclayon who brought the victim home.
Now I know that TaRSIER 117 service is from place of accident to hospital of admission in order to serve another call.
To the TaRSIER staff, thank you from the bottom of our hearts. Hope to know your name. Amidst the frenzy, I missed to ask their names. Unya, daghan pa gyud nga dili motoo sa kapaspas sa response sa TaRSIER 117. Wait until your turn comes, huh!
Seeing all the events on September 9, I want to ask this question: Is compassion now a rarity? Where can we find the Hippocratic creed fully epitomized? What a shame!
But, CONGRATULATIONS TaRSIER 117!