The least she wanted was to have the disease, but what is more disheartening is to be treated like an outcast.
Covid-19 survivor Rosemarie Cantong was recently given a grand exit at the Baguio General Hospital and Medical Center after recovering from the infection, but the reception expected to be given to someone who weathered an illness that has no known cure yet, was unexpected.
In the community where Rose and her son intended to stay, there were no smiles to welcome her, only objections from people who have the wrong impression that they will be infected by her mere presence in the community.
After her discharge from the BGHMC, Cantong and her five-year-old son decided to transfer at Purok Pidawan, Barangay Loakan Proper from Barangay Upper Dagsian where they used to live along with her common-law husband.
Some members of the community, however, complained that Cantong and her son should return at her former residence.
Officials of Barangay Loakan Proper came to Rose’s defense and said her transfer in the barangay were due to personal reasons, not because she or her son were not welcome at Upper Dagsian.
In its Facebook post, the barangay assured that Cantong was given a clean bill of health and have undergone series of tests before she was discharged from the hospital.
Her son and the people whom she had close contact with have also undergone tests and were found negative of any infection.
The owner of the house where she and her son will stay have also agreed of her stay there in the meantime.
The same post stated that Mayor Benjamin Magalong and the Loakan District Health Center have guaranteed that Cantong and her son are fit to return to the community and only have to observe home quarantine. Both are also closely monitored by the barangay medical team.
“We hope for everyone’s consideration to this situation,” the barangay said in its post as it appealed to all concerned to respect each other in every way they can.
Cantong is the 13th positive case in Baguio City.
Netizens also appealed to those who are averse to the mother and son’s stay in the barangay to be compassionate and not to discriminate.
Health experts said that the SARS-CoV2, the virus strain that causes Covid-19 infection is spread through close contact with an infected person. – Rimaliza A. Opiña
