Health assessment of health and emergency service front liners before and during the COVID-19 pandemic

The outbreak of coranavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in December 2019 from Wuhan, China, affected the Philippines in January 2020. To contain the virus, President Duterte imposed an Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) effectively on March 17, 2020, over entire Luzon. The Interagency task force (IATF) identified the health and emergency services frontliners such as public and private health workers and their services providers, workers and volunteers of the Philippine Red Cross and WHO, employees of health maintenance organizations, health insurance officers, disaster and risk management officers, and public safety officers. Specially, this study determined the demographic profile of the respondents perception before and during the COVID-19 pandemic in terms of; availability of necessary medical supplies, availability of personal protective equipment, bodyweight, overall health condition, respondents' medical condition and vitamins/supplements, problems encountered and factors that negatively affect the function of health and emergency service front liner during the pandemic. The study adopted the descriptive method. The researchers used online questionnaire through Google Forms to pandemic adversely affected the health status of the respondents. The insufficiency of essential medical supplies and personal protective equipment, conflicting guidelines, interference from political leaders, concern to family members are perceived by the respondents to affect adversely their work and health during this pandemic. Taking of necessary immunity-boosting vitamins and supplements is crucial in the fight against COVID-19. Young and single female frontliners play an essential role of fighting the COVID-19 pandemic at the community-based health care units. The researchers recommend that necessary medical supplies and personal protective equipment be available on time for use; that concerned authorities and agencies prioritize the employment status and full financial benefits of frontliners, that concerned authorities implement and follow clear necessary guidelines, and the political leaders pay a role model in following community quarantine guidelines in the fight against COVID-19.