“It would take 150 years for the world to see the kind of nursing I envision…” – Florence Nightingale
The World Health Organization (WHO) declared this year 2020 as the Year of the Nurse and Midwife. Now, with the increasing number of COVID-19 cases in the Philippines, nurses are being called to the frontline to serve during these unsettling times.
Last Wednesday, April 1, a nurse was added to the list of brave Filipino frontliners who died taking care of patients with COVID-19. The Philippine Nurses Association announced the death of Arvin Pascual after contracting the novel coronavirus disease.
Pascual was admitted last March 21 after showing signs and symptoms of the disease. His test results came in positive last March 29.
Pascual is a cherished son and a loving husband to Joy Antonino Pascual. He was a BS Nursing graduate of Wesleyan University – Philippines in Cabanatuan City. He served as a dedicated nurse in Dr. Paulino J. Garcia Memorial Research and Medical Center in Nueva Ecija since 2012.
The Wesleyan University – Philippines extended their deepest sympathies to the family of Arvin Pascual.
“He is a frontliner and we are proud of his selflessness and dedication to the call of duty,” according to University President Benjamin Turgano in a Facebook post.
“Hindi matatawaran ang serbisyong iyong ibinigay. Ikinararangal ka namin sa Pamantasang Wesleyan,” posted by WUP – Criminology Alumni Organization to extend their sympathies.
“He is known as the pastor of the NE group where he always leads the prayer during meetings. Surely we will miss our joyful fallen brother,” shared Navara Nation Nueva Ecija Chapter in their farewell message to Pascual. The organization described him as a ‘true hero’ in these trying times.
A statement released by Filipino Nurses United also expressed their condolences, “Paalam Arvin… salamat sa matapat mong paglilingkod bilang frontline health worker sa laban sa COVID-19. Isa kang inspirasyon sa aming mga kapwa mo nurse at iba pang manggagawang pangkalusugan,”
The nurses’ organization also demanded the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) on COVID 19 to provide personal protective equipment (PPEs) to frontline health workers and to initiate mass testing in order to effectively contain the virus.
The Department of Health recorded 3,094 positive cases, 144 deaths and 57 recovered. Only 5,530 PUIs have been tested as of April 4, 4pm.
