A small group of university students made a visit to the National Orthopedic Hospital with the idea of cheering up some patients. After the visit I heard them speak about the very poor and inhumane conditions those patients were in.
There was one patient who was immobile and whose diaper could be changed only once a week! Unbelievable! The ward was hot and had very poor ventilation. The stench was nauseating. The toilets were not flushing. The floors were unclean. The nurse said that she had to wash the gloves to recycle them. The tubes used by the patients had to be recycled, too. Appalling!
Now that we are succeeding in fixing the toilets in our airports and the upgrading of toilets in government buildings are in the pipeline, let’s call public attention to the condition of the National Orthopedic Hospital. I would not know of the conditions in other government hospitals. Perhaps the Inquirer can make a special report on this matter or write an editorial about it.
We must carefully study this problem and find ways to treat our sick people humanely. And I think we should stop blaming the lack of money or each other for this pitiful situation. If we are honest and work conscientiously, money should not be a problem. It’s a question of attitude: we must make up our minds to do things better.
—FR. CECILIO L. MAGSINO,
111 B. Gonzales St.,
Loyola Heights 1108, QC;
cesmagsino@gmail.com