Psychosocial Intervention and Disaster Education in Negros Oriental

The Visayas Primary Health Care Services, Inc. (VPHCS) sent a team to conduct Psychosocial Intervention and Disaster Education in Barangays Binobohan, Planas and Buenavista, Guihulngan and Barangay Mapalasan, La Libertad, Negros Oriental last December 13 - 20, 2012.

The week long activity is part of the rehabilitation project of the Community Empowerment Resource Network (CERNET) for victims of the earthquake and landslide in the barangays last February 6, 2012. The rehabilitation project also includes housing assistance and livelihood programs for the residents of the affected communities.

The VPHCS is a consortium member of the CERNET which is a civil society organization in the Visayas which assists marginalized people’s organizations in their development initiatives.

CERNET Executive Director Dr. Oliver Gimenez introduces 

about the psychosocial intervention and disaster education program.

The team composed of doctors, nurses, psychologists and other health professionals conducted educational inputs on the different kinds of disasters, both human and natural-made, overview of disaster preparedness, mitigation and management and psychosocial counseling for nearly 2,000 residents.

Cebu Normal University psychologists Gilbert Carredo (foreground) 

and Gilbert Kagakit

(background) in a play therapy with children 

victims of the February 2012 tragedy.

The activity was held in coordination with the four farmers’ associations in the barangays, namely, the Panaghugpong sa mga Mag-uuma sa Binobohan, Kahugpongan sa mga mag-uuma sa Planas, Kahugpongan sa mga mag-uuma sa Buenavista and La Libertad Weavers Association, the local government units of Guihulngan City and La Libertad and the barangays councils.

Another psychosocial therapy session of the children.

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Insights from a psychologist

Our psychosocial intervention and disaster education program had great impact on the residents and helped them to answer their own concerns. We listened with empathy as they shared their stressful experiences as victims of tragedies that were totally unexpected -- the earthquake and landslide in February 2012, which made them fear of more coming typhoons, floods following heavy rains, other calamities and end of the world. The farmers willingly cooperated to learn from the disaster education and psychosocial therapy.

Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center psychologist 

Ma. Antonella Codeniera in a psychosocial therapy session.

However, in Barangay Binobohan, what was most stressful was the militarization (of the Philippine army) which caused the residents fear of impending death and made them hypervigilant always.

VPHCS staff nurse Irish Ramirez talks about disaster management.

We recommend for a follow-up of the psychosocial education, especially for the children who may need more time to fully address their psychotherapy.

By Gilbert A. Kagakit
On Call Psychologist
Cebu Normal University

Conference on Volunteering of the Academe

The VPHCS sent a representative, Susana Lynsy Linao-Ardona, R.N. to join the 2012 National Conference on the Engagement of the Academe in Volunteering or NCEAV last December 6-7 at the Miriam College in Quezon City, Metro Manila.  

The activity brought together representatives of state universities and colleges, other higher education institutions, non-government organizations, national government agencies, local government units and the private sector to examine the role of the academe in nation-building, under the theme ‘Creating synergy. Charting new paths.’ 

The NCEAV is convened by Miriam College and VSO Bahaginan. It aims to understand the landscape of volunteering in the Philippines and how this relates to the role of the academe, examine fundamental and emerging issues about volunteering by the academe and to share good practice and case studies, create a community of practice and help build a stronger voluntary sector that recognizes the impact and value of volunteering. 

Lynsy presented the VPHCS two-decade experience on how it has mobilized members of the health academe, particularly, medical, medical technology, dental, and nursing students to volunteer and render health services in its community-based health programs. She discussed about various activities of volunteer health students including the Student Integration Program (SIP) held during semestral and summer breaks which brings health students to poor communities. VPHCS has also initiated formation of the Students’ Health Advocacy for Response and Empowerment (SHARE) in Cebu and the Students’ Alliance for Community Health (SACHS) in Bohol which organize community exposure programs and services in marginalized communities. 

The NCEAV featured exhibitors from organizations across Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao to showcase good practices and case studies in volunteering. Plenary and breakout sessions provided a wide range of learning covering topics on the engagement of the academe in volunteering.

Lynsy Linao-Ardona discusses about the VPHCS 

experience on volunteering of the health academe 

in its community-based health programs.

VPHCS joins World AIDS Day Celebration

The Visayas Primary Health Care Services, Inc. (VPHCS) joined the World AIDS Day celebration last December 1 together with various groups which included the Cebu City Multisectoral STD and AIDS Council, Department of Health, Cebu City Health Department, Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center, Cebu Plus Association, and other non-government organizations.

The celebration started with a holy mass in the chapel of the Asilo de la Milagrosa, followed by a motorcade that ended in Plaza Independencia where a program was held.

The VPHCS is currently supporting the Iglesia Filipina Independiente – Visayas-Mindanao Regional Office for Development (IFI-VIMROD) in its project on HIV/AIDS prevention and awareness.

World AIDS Day is the focal point of the World AIDS Campaign, which is active all year round. On December 1, there are many health education campaigns. Anti-discrimination activities are also launched on or around this date. 

Staff of VPHCS and IFI-VIMROD pose before the program 

marking the celebration of the World AIDS Day in Plaza Independencia

following a motorcade along the city’s main streets.

During the program, Jerson See, president of the Cebu Plus Association, Inc. appealed for non-discrimination and respect for persons living with HIV/AIDS. Other speakers in the program included Cebu City Health Officer Dr. Stella M. Ygona, VSMMC Medical Specialist Dr. Annabelle Fuentes, and Cebu City Health Office Head of STD and HIV/Aids Detection Unit Dr. Ilya A. Tac-an.

A beauty pageant, Mr. and Miss World AIDS Day capped the celebration. 

Another pose in Plaza Independencia after the motorcade.

ACT program officer visits Bohol, Cebu

Asian Community Trust (ACT) Program Officer Megumi Nishijima recently visited Bohol in order to see the progress of its project being implemented in partnership with the Visayas Primary Health Care Services, Inc.

Ms. Nishijima visited Barangay Sto. Nino in the Municipality of San Miguel and Barangay Caluasan in the Municipality of Dagohoy last Nov. 19 - 21, 2012 in line with the ongoing project “Building community-based health programs to promote health and prevent disease in Bohol.” The project started in April 2010 and is on its third and last year.

Ms. Nishijima (writing) talks with leaders of the people’s organization 

in Barangay Sto. Nino during her visit.

 

The ACT, Japan's first fund raising-style charitable trust, was established in 1979 to assist people at the grass-roots level in Asian developing countries. It has supported projects in more than five Asian countries, in fields spanning health, medical treatment, education, youth training, and development of rural communities. It has funded several projects in urban poor settlers and fishermen communities in Cebu. 

A pose with the members of the people’s organization 

in Barangay Sto. Nino.

Ms. Nishijima talked with leaders and community health workers of the farmers’ organization in Sto. Nino, the Sto. Nino Farmers Association (SFA), a member of the Hugpong Mag-uuma sa San Miguel (HUMASA) or the Farmers Association in San Miguel, and the farmers’ organization Mga Mag-Uuma sa LACALSANDA Apektado sa Land Levelling (MALALA) (Farmers in Lacalsanda affected by Land levelling) in Caluasan.

A pose with residents in Barangay Caluasan.

Services of the CHWs including an herbal cooking, feeding of malnourished children and check up of patients were also conducted during her visit.

Later, Ms. Nishijima visited the VPHCS office on Nov. 22 and shared her insights, noting the improvement of the health practices of the people since the project started two years ago. 

 

A pose with VPHCS staff, from left, Luz Carreon, Crescenciana Labitad, 

Dr. Grace Molina, Dr. Petty Orbeta de Castro, Megumi Nishijima, 

Angelie Marangga, and Dr. Erlinda Posadas.

The project staff said that although the project ends in March 2013, the services of the CHWs who were trained in the project shall continue and the people’s organizations shall sustain the health programs.

Project on environmental sanitation

A one-year project “Promoting environmental sanitation and solid waste management towards better health” in Barangay Tangke, Talisay City, Cebu, funded by the Foundation for the Philippine Environment (FPE) started this November 2012. 

 

The project covers seven sitios in Barangay Tangke, one of the 22 barangays in Talisay City, with a population of nearly 2,000 households and is implemented in partnership with the Tangke United Fisherfolk Association (TUFA).

The project aims to enhance the capacity of the people’s organization to promote environmental sanitation and solid waste management towards better health. The project shall enhance awareness on environmental sanitation and proper waste disposal in order to prevent and control health problems, train community health workers (CHWs), leaders of the people’s organization and barangay officials (PO) on environmental sanitation and solid waste management, and establish a “Kuwarta sa Basura” that recycles waste materials and at the same time generate income for the people.

The project activities include the following, namely: distribution of information, education and communication materials and community meetings, training on solid waste management, vermiculture and takakura, a study tour to the Mohon Parish Eco Park, Barangay Luz and Councilor Nestor Archival Eco Park. Finally, the project shall work with the barangay council to establish the “Kuwarta sa Basura” program of the barangay. 

VPHCS Board holds annual meeting

The Board of Trustees held its annual meeting last November 17. 

Members of the Board include the following, namely, Atty. Alfonso Cinco, IV, chairman; Dr. Jaime Galvez-Tan, vice-chairman; Fr. Crispin Mostajo, CSsR, secretary; Elizabeth P. Tan, treasurer; Ma. Elena V. Luna, Dr. Eleanor Jara, and Caridad Tharan, members.

VPHCS executive director Dr. Petty Orbeta de Castro presented the program report of Dec. 2011 to October 2012 while Ms. Tan presented the financial report.

The thrusts for 2013 were discussed and finalized and major activities for the next year were also finalized.

From left to right: Caridad Tharan, Atty. Alfonso M. Cinco IV, 

Dr. Jaime Z. Galvez-Tan, Elena V. Luna, Dr.Eleonor Jara, 

Elizabeth P. Tan, Dr. Petty Orbeta de Castro, Crescenciana Labitad, 

Fr. Crispin Mostajo, CSsR.

Gov’t health workers, patients hold coordinated protest action vs. privatization

Where will the poor go once government hospitals are privatized through outright sale, corporatization, or public-private partnerships?

By ANNE MARXZE D. UMIL

Bulatlat.com

MANILA – Eduardo Basas, 58, has been traveling from his province in Samar to the Philippine Orthopedic Center (POC) in Banaue in Quezon City since 1993, afterhe was hit by a 10-wheeler truck in Borac, Eastern Samar.He is accompanied by his wife Merly, 51. The POC is the only government hospital in the country that mainly caters to patients with orthopedic and neuromuscular conditions. Eduardo and Merly joined the hundreds of patients and health workers who protested, October 25, against the planned sale of the said hospital. They were drenched by the rain but that did not deter them from pushing through with the protest action.

The October 25 protest action was not confined to the POC. Health workers from five government hospitalsin the National Capital Region – the Philippine Orthopedic Center, National Center for Mental Health (NCMH), Philippine Heart Center (PHC), Jose R. Reyes Memorial Medical Center (JRRMMC), and Philippine General Hospital (PGH) – as well as those in Davao City and the Baguio General Hospital simultaneously held protest actions against the privatization of government hospitals during their lunch break from 12 noon to 1 p.m..

According Sean Velchez, president of the POC employees union, the health workers did not abandontheir posts because they went out during their break time. He also said that some health workers even asked for a change in their shifts just to attend the protest action.

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COMMED breastfeeding project

The VPHCS supported the Community Medicine Development Foundation (COMMED) in its recent project with the World Health Organization (WHO) Country Office, the Department of Health – Center for Health Development (CHD) and the City Health Offices (CHO) of Mandaue, Lapu-lapu and Cebu Cities. COMMED was the training institution for the WHO project “Exclusive Breastfeeding for the First Six Months Breastfeeding, Tama, Sapat at Ekslusibo (BFTSEK).”

Staff of the VPHCS joined COMMED staff in training peer counselors (PC) of breastfeeding who included barangay health workers, barangay nutrition scholars, nurses, medical officers, infant and young child feeding coordinators and health education and promotion officers of the City Health Offices in a series of seminars in September.

After the trainings, practicums or mentoring of the trained counselors actually doing counseling of pregnant and lactating mothers were conducted in October.

Participants during one of the series of seminars on breastfeeding.

A role playing on proper breastfeeding techniques 

during one of the seminars.

Medical mission in Danao, Bohol

  
More than 100 children were medically examined last Oct. 20 by VPHCS staff and volunteer doctors, nurses and nursing students in Sitio San Jose, Barangay Tabok, Danao, Bohol.

A pose of some of the children who were given services 

during the physical examination.

The medical examination of the children included the determination of their weights, heights and visual acuity and check-up of general body systems and dental status. Urinalysis using dipsticks with eight parameters was also done. As a result of the examinations, children with below-normal nutritional status and those with visual, dental, and probable kidney function problems were identified. Those with other illnesses and acute problems were also properly managed. 

Dr. Orleta Ursal, a family medicine practitioner, examines a baby.

Bryan Marquez, R.N. gets the height and weight of a child.

The mission was sponsored by the Nagkahiusang Kabus nga Mag-uuma sa Danao (NAKAMADA) and Task Force Carabao – Germany with the assistance of the Barangay Council of Tabok.

The medical team included Dr. Erlinda Posadas, Dr. Petty Orbeta de Castro, Dr. Orleta Ursal, Dr. Grace Molina, Mark Balingit, R.N., Arian Rama, R.N., Bryan Marquez, R.N., Angelo Villar, R.N., and Ryan Oclarit, R.N.

 

Mark Balingit, R.N. and VPHCS staff Luz Yana dispense medicines during the clinic.

The struggle for health is a struggle for social justice

By Laravic Flores 

Growing up in a family of activists who survived martial law in the Philippines, learning rally chants such as “Makibaka! Huwag matakot!” was just as normal as learning my ABC’s. Throughout my upbringing, my parents emphasized values of social justice and advocating for the marginalized with a purpose to "Serve the People.” As a medical student currently studying in Cuba, one of the guiding principles we are taught in our medical training is the concept of “solidaridad” and the essence of “ciencia y conciencia” -- that as health professionals, we must not only have a strong basis in science and medicine; but moreover, we must have a social conscience that guides our work in solidarity with poor and disenfranchised communities to use the skills we learn in service of the people most in need. It is with these principles gleaned from both my family rearing and my Cuban medical training that I decided to travel to my homeland this past summer to work with community-based health programs in the Philippines (CBHP’s) and to volunteer with the medical mission relief efforts in response to the floods that affected over 2 million people in the city of Manila. 

Laravic (center, seated), with a family in Barangay Canjulao, Lapu-lapu City.

I was privileged to have had the opportunity to work with Council for Health and Development (CHD) and Visayas Primary Health Care Services, Inc. (VPHCS) who facilitated my itinerary and integration with community-based health programs in the Philippines (CBHPs) both in Manila and Cebu in September 2012. Working with these organizations contributed a great deal to my learning experience and was a valuable addition to my ongoing medical education and development as a future physician dedicated to working with underserved communities. CBHPs and Community Health Workers (CHWs) follow a primary care community empowerment model similar to that which we are taught in Cuba – that health must be viewed from a bio-pyscho-social perspective. As such, in addition to providing medical care, there must also be education and advocacy to address the political, social, and economic factors that affect health. Working with various CBHPs and speaking to CHWs, I gained a better understanding of their experiences promoting health and well-being in their communities through providing free basic health services, and conducting outreach and education that emphasize disease prevention. In addition, participating in political activities that advocate for policies that are pro-people and consider the needs of marginalized communities illustrated the importance of community organizing to overcome past and current struggles. 

Laravic with health workers of the Ermita Fisherfolks Association 

in Barangay Ermita, Cebu City.

From the fisher folk community in Ermita with a more established CBHP spanning almost three decades, to the more recent CBHPs continuing to develop in communities in Mandaue City and Lapu-Lapu City – despite the differences in localities and years of experience, the essence of their work and principles remain the same. CHWs are not only responsible for healing acute physical illnesses in their communities, they are also essential to community building and community organizing in order to address the social ailments endangering their survival and well-being. It was precisely because CHWs were able to organize their fellow neighbors and build strength in numbers that communities in Ermita and Mandaue City have been able to resist threats of demolition from the local government that would have led to massive displacement of already vulnerable communities.

Aside from learning from CBHPs and CHWs about their community experience, my exposure trip also allowed me to see with my own eyes the dire health situation experienced by patients in government health institutions. Walking through the crowded wards in Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center, mothers who had just given birth were sitting on the corners of the bed or on chairs nearby. There was no room for them to even lie down because the bed had to be shared by four newborn babies sleeping side-by-side because there were no individual cribs available to them. However, on another floor of the same hospital was another post-partum ward for those with the resources to pay for more comfortable accommodations. These mothers had their own private air-conditioned rooms with amenities that should be provided to every mother and child going through the stress of labor and delivery. Even within the same institution, the disparities due to the privatization of health care were appallingly apparent. Having witnessed this for myself made the forum I attended a few days later on the topic of the corporatization of health that much more relevant.

In the face of the struggles and challenges confronting the marginalized sectors of Philippine society – the rural and urban-poor communities in town centers threatened by demolitions, farmers and indigenous tribes in the mountainside threatened by militarization – the resilience of these communities is a testament to the power of community organizing. And utilizing health as a tool for community organizing speaks volumes to the work of VPHCS and the associated CBHPs and CHWs in implementing this primary care community empowerment model. Integrating with the various CHWs and seeing the passionate work of the VPHCS staff reaffirmed my belief that health must be approached from a holistic perspective. I am very grateful to everyone at VPHCS for hosting me and giving me the privilege to work with them this summer. Through my various experiences, I have seen the dual role of physicians as both healers and as advocates, and I realize the vital role doctors and all those in the health sector have in working towards social change and community upliftment. The struggle for health is a struggle for social justice. Those in the field of health are vital resources in working to achieve that justice.

Laravic Flores was born in the Philippines and later immigrated with her family to the U.S. shortly after the fall of the Marcos dictatorship in 1986. Raised in a family of activist who survived the oppressive years of martial law, her parents shared their deep love for their mother country and the historical socio-political-economic causes of the serious problems still suffered by the majority of people in the Philippines. They instilled values of social justice throughout her upbringing, emphasizing the importance of community organizing and solidarity work with oppressed communities. It is these same guiding principles that led her to study medicine in Cuba and work with CBHP’s in 2012. She is currently studying at the Latin American School of Medicine in Havana, Cuba and is conducting research to explore the topic of “Health and Liberation in Cuba and the Philippines: A Comparative Analysis of Health Care Models from a Historical and Social Justice Perspective.” 

Gender sensitivity seminar held

The VPHCS recently linked with the Passerelles Numériques Philippines, a French non-profit organization created in 2005 that provides information technology (IT) three-year college education scholarship to less fortunate students at the University of San Carlos, and ensures that the graduates get a job after their training with the help of its IT partner companies in Metro Cebu

A gender sensitivity seminar was conducted by VPHCS staff member Dr. Erlinda Posadas on August 21, for more than 80 students in the PN residential house in Talamban, Cebu City.

Another non-government organization also linked up with the VPHCS recently. Members of the World Vision, a Christian development, advocacy and relief organization, Cebu office, met with the management committee on Sept. 10, in order to be oriented regarding our community empowerment work and resource mobilization for sustainability. They came to know about our work through our website. During the visit, mutual experiences were shared regarding community development work.

Dr. Erlinda Posadas with scholars 

of the Passerelles Numériques Philippines 

during a gender sensitivity seminar on August 21, 2012.

HIV/AIDS Project

The Visayas Primary Health Care Services, Inc. (VPHCS) is supporting the Iglesia Filipina Independiente-Visayas Mindanao Regional Office for Development (IFI-VIMROD) in its ongoing project, “HIV/AIDS Prevention and Awareness Program in Urban Poor Communities in Cebu.”

The one-year project which started August 2012 project complements the national and international campaign on HIV-AIDS in terms of providing increased access to information and services on HIV/AIDS prevention, control and treatment in Barangays Hipodromo, Carreta and Sambag II in Cebu City.

The project aims to increase awareness on the causes, modes of transmission, consequences, means of prevention and control of HIV/AIDS through a comprehensive, educational and information campaign in the three communities. 

The project shall also train community health volunteers/peer educators in the three areas to provide basic information and health services (counselling and referrals) on HIV/AIDS. Interested persons in the communities shall then be assisted to avail of voluntary HIV testing and those with the disease to avail of free medical treatment.

Laying the foundations for the privatization of government hospitals

By ANNE MARXZE D. UMIL

Bulatlat.com

MANILA – The privatization of public hospitals has been going on since the regime of the late president Ferdinand Marcos. The different administrations had different names for it: public-private partnerships, corporatization, user’s service fee schemes, revenue enhancement programs, outsourcing or outright sale. Health groups said privatization has been the framework of almost all health policies and programs of the various administrations since Marcos.

According to the Network Opposed to Privatization, Marcos laid the legal framework for the privatization of government hospitals through Presidential Decree 2029 and 2080, which and legalized the sale of Welfareville Property where the National Center for Mental Health stands through the Republic Act 5260.

The late president Corazon Aquino, on the other hand, prepared the organizational mechanism for privatization by setting up the Committee on Privatization and the Asset Privatization Trust. The Build-Operate and Transfer Law was also enacted during her term, which allowed the private sector to access official development aid for privatization projects.

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Health not priority under Aquino’s 2013 budget

“Once charity patients from indigent families without PhilHealth coverage are turned away from public hospitals, many will be forced to simply wait for death even if they are suffering from what originally were treatable diseases.”

By INA ALLECO R. SILVERIO
Bulatlat.com

MANILA — Gabriela Women’s Party Rep. Emmi de Jesus is fuming mad. According to the staunch women’s rights activist lawmaker, the Benigno Aquino III administration is deliberately and perhaps even spitefully ignoring the welfare of the Filipino poor when it crafted it’s budget proposal for 2013. De Jesus cited in particular the Aquino government’s 2013 budget proposal for the Department of Health.

“The P56.8 billion ($1.35 billion) proposed 2013 DOH budget dismally falls short of the World Health Organization’s recommended budgetary allocation of five percent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) for public health. It represents a mere 1.89 percent of the GDP registered by the National Economic Development Agency for the third quarter of 2011. The Aquino administration’s intention to spend no more than P0.62 ($0.014) per Filipino in 2013 without doubt constitutes a violent attack against the Filipino people’s right to health,” de Jesus said.

De Jesus said that what exacerbates an already sorry situation is how the increase in the DOH-proposed budget will only go to PhilHealth.

“The Philhealth system can never replace a genuine universal health care system, especially in a society where poor families can ill afford to feed their families more than twice a day, let alone pay for the PhilHealth premiums. The PhilHealth card is also useless in poorly provisioned public hospitals,” De Jesus asserted.

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Campaign against privatization of public hospitals intensifies

By INA ALLECO R. SILVERIO

Bulatlat.com

As the House of Representatives starts its 16th congressional session later this July, apprehensions are rife that it will push for the complete privatization of public hospitals in the country, leaving poor patients at the mercy of corporate interests.

Bayan Muna Rep. Teddy Casiño is appealing to his colleagues to withdraw support to bills that aim to corporatize the country’s public hospitals. He said lawmakers should realize that House Bill 6069 or “An Act Creating National Government Hospital Corporations,” has dire, if not life-threatening implications for the country’s poorest citizens. He said hospital corporatization and the government’s Public-Private Partnership scheme will result to higher hospital fees.

“This bill and its counterpart measure Senate Bill 3130 or the National Government Hospital Corporate Restructuring Act, will make healthcare services inaccessible for poor families all over the country,” he said.

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Cheaper medicines law hasn’t served the poor

By Satur C. Ocampo

The Philippine Star, Opinion Page

June 9, 2012

Four years ago last June 6, the Cheaper Medicines Law  (Republic Act 9502, the Universally Accessible Cheaper and Quality Medicines Act of 2008) passed after contentious debates in the 14^th Congress, was signed into law by President Gloria M. Arroyo.

            R.A. 9502 was intended to achieve two correlated goals:

1.      Reduce the cost of medicines – especially those that are commonly bought by the poor – to 50% of their 2001 prices and make these available nationwide, and

2.     Require and ensure the production of adequate supply, distribution, use and acceptance of medicines identified by their generic names, which are priced much lower than patented drugs mainly produced by multinational corporations.

This second goal was supposed to have been realized through the Generics Act of 1998.  But that law was proven inadequate, thus  R.A. 9502 was enacted to complement it.

Through amendments to the Intellectual Property Code, the 2008 law allows generics-producing firms to test, produce, and register their own versions of patented drugs, and prohibits the grant of new patents based only on newly-discovered uses of a known drug substance.

However, a “rider” provision says that “when the public interest is at stake” – which can be interpreted in varied ways – the government can resort to procuring patented drugs.

When R.A. 9502 was passed, medicine prices in the Philippines were among the highest in Asia:  per an ASEAN survey, 5 out of 9 medicines here cost 40 – 70% higher than those in Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand.

As one solution to the problem, R.A. 9052 gives the President the power to set price ceilings on various drugs, upon the recommendation of the Secretary of Health, including medicines for chronic illnesses, for prevention of diseases, and those found in the Philippine National Drug Formulary Essential Drug List.

Moreover, it allows the parallel importation of patented medicines from abroad when these are more affordable than those available domestically.  And to ensure the availability of affordable medicines, the law requires drug outlets to carry a variety of brands for each type, including imported ones, to give the consumers more choices.

After four years of implementation, how far has the Cheaper Medicines Act gone towards attaining the twin goals?

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CBHP project with DSWD

The VPHCS continues its health capability-building project funded by the Bayan Muna Party-List and supported by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) in five barangays in Cebu.

The two-year project which started last June 2011, “Building community-based health programs (CBHP) in Cebu through training, education and services,” is implemented in Barangay T. Padilla, Sitio Ermita Proper in Barangay Ermita, and Sitio Lawis in Barangay Pasil in Cebu City, Sitio Back of Matimco, Barangay Subangdaku in Mandaue City, and Barangay Canjulao in Lapu-lapu City. Beneficiaries in the barangays include 310 households in Barangay T. Padilla, 240 households in Sitio Ermita Proper, 220 households in Sitio Lawis, 160 households in Sitio Back of Matimco, and 500 households in Barangay Canjulao.

Members of the Ermita Fisherfolks Association pick lagundi leaves before boiling them into a decoction and a syrup as a cough medicine.

A community health worker in Ermita takes the blood pressure during a regular community clinic.

Health services including operation blood pressure are conducted in the people’s organization’s health center in Sitio Back of Matimco.

The project works with people’s organizations in the communities, including the Pundok sa Sitio Para sa Kauswagan (PSPK) in T. Padilla, Ermita Fisherfolks Association in Ermita, Pasil Women’s Association in Pasil, KALUWASAN in Sitio Back of Matimco, and the Nagkahisang Kabus sa Lapu-lapu in Canjulao. They have health committees with community health workers (CHWs). 

VPHCS staff Jessica Pejo conducts a health education class for mothers in Canjulao.

Health skills trainings were conducted for 75 CHWs last year in order to equip them with basic knowledge and skills to render preventive, promotive and selective curative care to the residents. Health education classes were also conducted among residents in the areas to promote health awareness with the aim to empower them in terms of health care delivery on common health problems that can be prevented in the community level. The VPHCS staff also guide, monitor and upgrade the knowledge and skills of the trained CHWs in between trainings as they deliver their health services to the residents. More trainings and health education activities are expected to continue this year. 

VPHCS staff Irish Ramirez talks to mothers in Canjulao on nutrition.

The project is highly significant today with the prevalence of common health problems that can be addressed in the community level. It has been observed that people seek tertiary care in the hospitals when they are already affected with serious illnesses that could have been prevented in their early stage in their homes. With increased health awareness and capacity in knowing, preventing and taking care of their own health needs through home remedies and indigenous resources in their communities, the incidence of serious illnesses and preventable ailments can be lessened. Eventually, the high cost of hospital care which unfortunately is now generally shouldered from out-of-the pockets can also be lessened. In the long term, quality of life can be enhanced. 

VPHCS Dr. Erlinda Posadas conducts blood sugar screening for diabetes mellitus in T. Padilla.

ACT continues support for Bohol project

The VPHCS project with the Asian Community Trust (ACT) of Japan, “Sustaining community-based health programs to promote health and prevent disease in Bohol” is on its third year.

The project is implemented in Barangay Sto. Nino, San Miguel and Barangay Caluasan, Dagohoy, in partnership with the people’s organizations, Hugpong Mag-uuma sa San Miguel (HUMASA) or the Farmers Association in San Miguel and the Mga Mag-uuma sa Lakalsanda Apektado sa Land Levelling (Farmers in Lakalsanda affected by Land Levelling) in Caluasan.

There are 125 households (679 population) in Sto. Nino and 402 households (2,132 population) in Caluasan.

Since the project started in April 2010, it has greatly benefitted the residents who are mostly poor farmers in dire need of health services in their rural areas. Through various programs developed and sustained by the people’s organizations through their trained CHWs and health committees, the project has reaped increased health awareness and improved health practices and rendered basic health services to the people.

A community health worker weighs a child as part of the growth monitoring and nutrition program in Sto. Nino and Caluasan. 

 

A community health worker renders ventusa or cupping therapy, a form of traditional Chinese medicine.

The project witnessed widespread health information dissemination on disease prevention and health promotion, covering topics including home remedies for common ailments, nutrition, basic first aid, family planning and contraception, control of acute respiratory tract infections, and control of diarrheal diseases, among others.

Health services by trained CHWs addressed common illnesses such as upper respiratory tract infections or common colds, diarrhea, fever, gastritis, muscle and joint pains, tension headaches, and skin diseases with the use of herbal medicines, water therapy, ventusa, and over-the-counter medications such as paracetamol, antacids, oral rehydration salts, and common antibiotics. Cases that they cannot handle were quickly referred to the project health services officer and to the health centers or government hospitals for more specialized care. 

A community health worker takes blood pressure. Hypertensive patients are advised on healthy lifestyle and referred to health professionals for proper treatment.

Hypertensive patients were screened by trained CHWs in the series of operation blood pressuring monitoring and were referred to the project health services officer and to the health centers for further work-up for possible complications and associated illnesses such as heart diseases and diabetes mellitus.

A nutrition program was started in the second year in both barangays which did not only have mass feeding of malnourished children identified in operation weighing and growth monitoring but also maintenance of proper nutrition through health information on nutrition, proper food preparation, cheap and easily available food sources and feeding practices to the mothers provided by trained CHWs.

Nutrition program in Sto. Nino and Caluasan fed malnourished children, monitored their growth and taught mothers regarding good nutritional practices.

A family planning program was launched in Caluasan, Dagohoy which included community education classes on reproductive health and contraception and referral by the CHWs of women desiring birth control to the health centers to avail of contraceptives such as pills and condoms.

The third year that started in April 2012 shall sustain the gains of the two years in terms of making the CHWs more capable of addressing the health problems in the communities. Advanced health skills trainings shall be conducted to enable them to manage more difficult medical cases. Special skills trainings shall enable them to effectively launch and sustain their ongoing health campaigns, the nutritional rehabilitation of malnourished children, promotion of proper nutrition, family planning, control of hypertension, and provision of essential herbal and rational Western medicines.

Furthermore, a small community health center shall be constructed in each of the two barangays, which shall serve as venues for the meetings of the CHWs, health education classes, clinics for regular check-ups and services, and the botica sa barangay (village pharmacy). Herbal medicines to be processed by the residents, medical supplies and materials, leaflets on common health problems and essential Western medicines aside from the patients’ medical records will be stocked safely in the health centers.

To strengthen the sustainability of their health programs, the leaders of the people’s organizations shall continue to network with their barangay councils, municipal governments, health centers and civic organizations in order to generate financial and material resources.

These prospects have been planned together with the leaders of the two people’s organizations.

Operation tuli held

The VPHCS joined a series of operation tuli  launched this summer, as in previous years.

The VPHCS team of doctors and volunteers joined the annual operation tuli in the Municipality of Baclayon, Bohol on May 2  where more than 250 boys were circumcised.  The local government unit of Baclayon sponsored the tuli.    The VPHCS team which helped the staff of the Baclayon Rural Health Unit was composed of Dr. Grace Molina, Dr. Oliver Gimenez, Irish Ramirez, Edgar Gahisan, Emelie Fernandez, and Linda de Castro.   Nursing students of the Students’ Alliance for Community Health Services (SACHS) also helped in the services.

VPHCS staff Irish Ramirez  circumcises  a boy in Baclayon.

VPHCS staff Emelie Fernandez in Baclayon tuli.

VPHCS team of volunteers also joined another tuli in Poblacion Medellin, which was organized by the Perez Monasque Foundation.   More than 200 boys benefitted from the free circumcision held on May 5.

Mothers and their boys wait for their turn during the tuli in Medellin sponsored by the Perez Monasque Foundation on May 5, 2012.

VPHCS team and volunteers pose with members of the Perez Monasque Foundation during the tuli in Medellin on May 5.

VPHCS volunteers in the operation tuli in Medellin.

The VPHCS also lent its tuli instruments during  two free circumcisions organized by the local government units of Paknaan  and Labogon, Mandaue City on May 19 and 26, respectively.  The activities were held in coordination with the Cebu Institute of Medicine- Community Medico-Social Services (CIM-CMSS) in Paknaan.  Dr. Erlinda Posadas, staff of the VPHCS and also a faculty member of the CIM joined medical students and resident doctors of the medical school in rendering the circumcision services. More than 350 boys benefitted from the two occasions.

Medical students and doctors of the Cebu Institute of Medicine together with VPHCS staff Dr. Erlinda Posadas,  and Labogon barangay captain Damaso Tumulak and health center personnel in the tuli on May 26, 2012. 

Gov’t temporary employment program for nurses “exploitative”

By Anne Marxze D. Umil
Bulatlat.com

MANILA – The government has found a new way of creating jobs for unemployed nurses in the country. But for progressive health workers, this new employment scheme of the Department of Health (DOH) is deceiving and exploits newly-registered nurses.

The RN Heals or the Registered Nurses for Health Enhancement and Local Service is an employment program of the government to “address” the unemployment problem of nurses in the country. The program was launched by the DOH in February 2011.

(Photo by Anne Marxze D. Umil/Bulatlat.com)

According to an article, more than 59,000 nurses applied for the program but only 10,000 nurses were accommodated by the program. Those selected were deployed to 1,221 rural communities nationwide.

The DOH partnered with the Department of Labor and Employment for the said program. Similar to the previous program of the government called the Nurses Assigned in Rural Services (Nars), nurses under the RN Heals program are also deployed to rural areas where health services are very much needed.

However, RN Heals provides only temporary employment. “This temporary employment program initiated by the government does not at all heal the pestering labor problems besetting the nursing profession for the longest time now,” Ma. Eleonor Nolasco, of Nars ng Bayan said.

Nolasco is also a registered nurse and a community health nurse. She is the founding president and current vice president of Nars ng Bayan, an association of community health nurses and people’s health advocates.

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On Health Workers Day, health workers reiterate demand for salary hike, stop to privatization

By ANNE MARXZE D. UMIL
Bulatlat.com

MANILA – Leopoldo Merdanio, 40, is a registered nurse working at the San Lazaro Hospital. He is single but his P17,000 ($404) monthly salary is just enough for him, his mother and grandmother to be able to live and eat decent meals three times a day.

However, he is worried that as prices of basic commodities are soaring his monthly salary might not be enough to cover his family’s expenses.

“We have long been calling for an increase but it falls on deaf ears. What’s worse is that the government is reducing our benefits,” Merdanio told Bulatlat.com.

Republic Act 10069 declares May 7 as National Health Workers Day “to give due recognition to the important role and contributions of the health workers who provide vital health services to our people and to promote their rights and welfare and enhance their sense of worth and dignity.”

However, Merdanio and hundreds of health workers gathered on May 7 this year not to celebrate but to cry out for justice as the government continues to deprive them of their rights and that of the people they serve as well. Health workers from different hospitals, clinics, agencies and institutions marched from España Avenue to Chino Roces Bridge (former Mendiola bridge).

“We cry out for an immediate relief from our comatose state – health workers are battered with low salaries, inadequate benefits, inhumane working conditions and lack of job security.

These are the results of the worsening crisis and aggravated by the continuing implementation of cost-cutting, privatization and contractualization policies of President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III administration,” the Alliance of Health Workers (AHW) said in a statement.

Health workers are demanding for a P6,000 ($142) increase in the salaries of the lowest salary grade in the sector. They are also demanding for an upgrade to salary grade 15 for nurse 1 and salary grade 24 for doctors.

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Homeopathy services

The VPHCS continues to render homeopathy services in depressed urban poor communities in Cebu under the tutelage of German homeopathic doctor Norbert Enders.

Dr. Enders, a member of the French organization Solidarite Homeopathie in France where he is currently based has been training the staff of the VPHCS staff on the practice of homeopathy and treating indigent Cebuanos with homeopathy since 2008. During this year’s visit from January to April 2012, Dr. Enders continued to conduct systematic, comprehensive and quality trainings to the VPHCS staff on the basic theories and practice of homeopathy, different remedies and indications, common illnesses and remedies, making a patient profile and arriving at a remedy, and other topics on homeopathy. Actual patients were also seen and treated during the trainings aside from lectures.

Dr. Enders in a training with VPHCS staff.

Clinics of the staff with Dr. Enders were held in Sitio Lawis in Barangay Pasil and Sitio St. Mary Grace in Barangay Talamban, both of which are poor communities in Cebu City. More than 200 patients were seen, treated and managed properly with homeopathy. Records and pictures of each patient were properly taken and kept in the office computers for documentation and file purposes. The trained staff actively treated the patients with Dr. Enders. Most of the patients were a follow-up of last year’s.


Dr. Enders examines a girl in Sitio St. Mary Grace, Talamban, Cebu City.


Dr. Enders examines a patient in Sitio Lawis, Barangay Pasil, Cebu City.

Homeopathy is a non-toxic system of medicine used to treat illness and relieve discomfort of a wide variety of health conditions. It is practiced by health care providers including medical physicians, chiropractors, homeopathic physicians, midwives and many others throughout the world.

Founded by German doctor Samuel Hahnemann in the 1790s, homeopathy is the art and the science of healing the sick by using substances capable of causing the same symptoms, syndromes and conditions when administered to healthy people, treating like with like (Similia similibus curentur), aiming to stimulate self-healing processes.

It is a form of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM).

Homeopathy uses over 2,000 different remedies which are chosen to suit a patient's characteristics, as well as to treat his symptoms. Information on such remedies has been collected for nearly 200 years. Clinical cases and recent scientific trials using these remedies have been documented.