A true soldier fights not because he hates what is in front of him, but because he loves what is behind him-anonymous philosopher.

If this were an ordinary day, this question would not have made much sense. However, today is like no other day before COVID-19 happened. There is a shift and scramble for survival amid the changing economic and health landscape. Hospitals are reaching their resource limit, while public transport workers shift to delivery services to stay afloat.

Even local governments have gone the extra mile to provide basic needs to the most vulnerable communities. The list is endless due to the chaos that has been happening around us lately. Whether we like it or not, we are in a war.

Yet, despite the lack of preparation, some people still chose to go straight into the battlefield, making their way through the uncharted territory of a new enemy, in hopes of protecting the land and the people they call home— and these are the people we call “frontliners”.

Being on the front lines means being the first line of defense. No matter the threat posed by external factors, these frontliners are supposed to face it head-on, preventing such threats from coming any closer to the vulnerable.

Some of these people pursued higher education and rigorous practice to be ready before entering their chosen fields, while some by experience from the amount of time and effort they have dedicated to their kind of work. Regardless of the paths they took, these people have broader knowledge and skills in handling the current state of humanity.

Knowledge and skills are a crucial combination when facing difficult situations. However, these are nothing without dedication and perseverance in the face of trials.

Anyone can stand on the starting line, but not everyone chooses to finish or even partake in it. Just like our current pandemic situation, you can see that many workers are protecting life and the essence of humanity.

Sadly, there are also a few whose fidelity is towards protecting their names instead.

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What does it take to be on the frontlines?
— Knowledge and skills do, but what KEEPS a resilient nurse or doctor in the frontlines is their commitment to their duty and humanity. Knowledge can only take them so far, but their morals and dedication can take them into the thick of the war.

We have healthcare workers, police and military, media, government employees, security guards and cargo drivers, bank/food/drugstore/supermarket employees, and other essential workers (ex. janitors) risking their own lives for human survival. Without these people, we would not know what to do and how to cope. They are even considered a high-risk population due to the amount and duration of risk exposure from their work. Some even go to the lengths of going past their normal levels of exhaustion to cater to the patients and affected communities- overlooking that they, too, require rest and proper nutrition.

A philosopher once said, “A true soldier fights not because he hates what is in front of him, but because he loves what is behind him.”

Everyone Has a Role to Play During a War
With that said, we also have to keep in mind that we need to do our part, as citizens, in protecting our frontliners from further surprise attacks by following the necessary means of prevention.

On top of that, it also pays to do something as small as being kind.
You never know how big of an impact your small act of kindness can boost their frontline workers’ morale.

Lastly, you can also help frontliners provide you with quality services by being honest to them and allowing them access to resources necessary to do their jobs. (e.g. Personal Protective Equipment). There have been cases wherein some patients have lied about some of their pertinent data or people hoarding the stocks of medical supplies.

These instances not only delay treatment but also put healthcare providers at risk. Imagine what would happen if all our healthcare providers, or all frontliners for this matter, could no longer be able to do their jobs because of one white lie?

Protect and support your front liners from the back, and rest assured, they will do what it takes to keep the real enemy at bay. We are in a war against the virus, COVID-19, not against man. Let us all protect each other as we hope for a brighter tomorrow for all of us.

Find how to support healthcare workers across the globe click here.