Frequently, during the COVID19 pandemic, which started in March 2020 in the Philippines, there have been usages and debates on the words or phrases " COVID19 battleground" and "first and last lines of defense."
COVID19 Battleground
Philippines COVID19 battleground just means the Philippines is in a battleground against COVID19 epidemic or pandemic. The COVID19 pandemic has reached the Philippines and the Philippines has to fight and control the COVID19 infection among its citizens - to prevent large-scale infection and deaths at the very least.
As of July 22, 2020, the Philippines is still deep in the COVID19 battleground as the number of confirmed cases has risen to 72,269 and out of these cases,1,843 deaths were recorded. The Philippine government is using the strategies of Test, Trace, Isolate and Treat to combat COVID19 pandemic.
First and Last Lines of Defense
In a battle, one usually talks of first, second, and last lines of defenses. Who constitutes the first, second and last lines of defenses? There are continuing debates on this.
For me, here are my thoughts, perceptions, opinions and recommendations (TPORs). [I will get inputs from other people to support my TPORs.]
In terms of individual and family health:
The first line of defense is the person himself. [Protect yourself by wearing mask; doing physical and social distancing; doing personal hygiene; maintaining healthy lifestyle to optimize host resistance; staying home as much as possible.] ---- [DO NOT INFECT OTHERS - WEAR MASK; DIVULGE INFO THAT YOU ARE CONTAMINATED / INFECTED.]
The second line of defense is the family. [Keeping the family safe from COVID19 and staying healthy; not infecting each other and other families.]
In terms of community health:
The first line of defense is the government / community. [Education; Communication; Quarantine;Governance]
The second line of defense is the health care institution. [Test, Trace, Isolate, Treat]
In terms of health care institutions:
The first line of defense are the rural health units or municipal health offices. [Test, Trace, Isolate, Treat]
The second line of defense are the hospitals. [Test, Trace, Isolate, TREAT]
First line of defense? 'Not doctors, but people staying home'
MARCH 29, 2020
The home is the first battleground, two former congressmen tell the Duterte government's National Task Force COVID-19
In the Philippines' battle against the spread of the coronavirus, medical workers must not be considered as the first line of defense but the last.
"So where is the main battleground and who are the real frontliners? The answer to the question above is this:
It is the person who must choose to self-isolate.
It is the family whose head of the household strictly enforces home quarantine and limits its movement, if at all, to one designated person for the most essential of errands or tasks," they said in the memorandum.
They added: "It is the sitio leader, village president, or the barangay captain that enforces both the broad and specific guidelines of ECQ (enhanced community quarantine) within their area of responsibility. They, thus, become our first line of defense."
Communities, not hospitals should be first line of defense vs. COVID-19 — public health expert
With the rising number of cases of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in the Philippines, a public health expert said it is up to communities and not the hospitals to stop the spread of the virus.
“First line of defense should be communities that [will help] stop the virus from spreading.
"[The] frontline is not the hospital," she said. "We need to protect our hospitals [because] in a disaster, it should be the last one standing."
Aflonso urged people to pay attention to the rural health units, whose heroic efforts are often overlooked.
"The heroic efforts of municipal health officers and regional health units are not recognized as they should be!" she continued.