"Tamang Kasilyas"

TOILET

Toilet training is not confined to the little toddlers learning how to properly use the potty. Everyday, the use of a toilet is essentially a part of preventing illnesses to be transmitted in a household, and ultimately, in the community. That’s why project head, Leo, reinforced a health teaching among the community members with the proper and RESPONSIBLE use and sanitation of personal toilet facilities.

A number of households in Goin still do not own their own personal toilets. These residents resort to other methods of toilet use that do not live up to the standards of the toilet facility set by the Rural Health Unit. Part of the reasons for this unavailability is due to financial limits. Because of this, the team sought the support of (whoever) with regards to the acquisition of cement to serve as toilet floorings. At present, two households have acquired this generous help. In addition, the barangay and the team have joined together to construct a letter for procurement of toilet bowls that was addressed to the municipal mayor, this and the construction of the toilet facilities are currently underway.

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“Malata” and “Dili-Malata”

SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT

            This month, the project with the major leap goes to the Solid Waste Management. Team newbie Roxanne D. Reyes – Ate Rox – began the advocacy of proper solid waste disposal at the team’s home by labeling trashcans with Biodegradable, Non-biodegradable, and Recyclables. In fairness to this proposition, life at the GOINnovate home became a lot less messy.

            Following that, Doc Rox spearheaded the Waste Analyzing and Characterization Study on two households per districts. Each household was given two empty sacks that served as garbage reservoirs; these were labeled with “Malata” and “Dili-Malata”. The households were instructed to dispose their garbage on the proper receptacles for the next 4 days. After 4 days, the sacks were collected, weighed, and segregated. The team identified the different kinds of wastes that the households disposed. With this information, Doc Rox called all representatives of each household in the experimental district, district 5. She conducted a Waste Segregation health teaching, identifying where particular wastes should properly be disposed in. The representatives actively participated in the activity, including agreeing to begin waste segregation at home.

            A week later, the team began preparing the placards for trashcan labels in district 5. The wooden planks were provided by the barangay, while the paint and brushes were bought from the generous financial support of medical doctors in Zamboanga City. Three placards were prepared for each household, each with the labels “Malata,” “Dili-Malata,” and “Recyclables.”

            On distribution of these placards, it was with great awe that the team witnessed the compliance of each household to have three garbage receptacles and one compost pit. This would not have happened if it weren’t for the vigorous leadership of Councilor Dominador Tanudra and his wife, Jocelyn Tanudra, who persuaded each household to properly manage their garbage disposal.

            Currently, all households in district 5 are proud owners of labeled garbage containers and proper compost pits, and actively practice proper and sanitary waste disposal. Other districts noticed this astounding change in the community and are starting to construct their own compost pits and segregate their trashes. Because of this, the team has high hopes for the next community exposure – anticipating a cleaner and greener Barangay Goin.

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“Pagkain Mo, Nutrisyon Mo.”

MALNUTRITION

            On another project, we targeted the younger population of the village of Goin, addressing the need for more intense actions to be done with regards to the rising incidence of malnutrition.

            Because of this, we sought and undivided attention of the mothers and fathers of the community. A seminar was conducted on October 8 at the Covered Court, Barangay Hall with the theme, “Pagkain Mo, Nutrisyon Mo.” The GOINnovate team requested the help of Doctor Ma. Lourdes Langco, the Municipal Nutrition Officer of Liloy, as resource speaker for the activity.

            The seminar focused on the following aspects:

·        Nutritious food for a well-balanced meal;

·        Breastfeeding;

·        Malnutrition: Effect and Management;

·        Benefits of Backyard Gardening;

·        Proper Food Preparation

Boxes of VitaMix supplements for 0-71 month-old kids were also dispensed.

To provide more options for nutritious, well-balanced, and affordable meals, the team conducted a Cooking Show on the 5^th of October, introducing a new and original recipe by team member Aundreaux Vladimir Y. Navarro. Project heads, Nikki and Ruby, with the help of Roxanne D. Reyes, spearheaded the activity and demonstrated the cooking process of Squash Patty and Kalabasa Fries. Leaflets of the recipe and its nutritional values were distributed among the parents present during the show.

The recipes were well-like by the parents and the children. Many provided good feedback regarding the recipes, and the Daycare started including Squash Patty and Kalabasa Fries in their menu for the young children of Goin.

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“Presyon Ko, Isasayaw Ko!”

HYPERTENSION

            The month of October brought a new storm to the humble village of Goin. That storm is what we would like to call: DYNAMISM.

            In the past few exposures, the team of medical students called GOINnovate started identifying Hypertensive residents in the village and dispensed Blood Pressure cards that serve to monitor their progress and compliance during therapy.

            To further promote a healthy lifestyle in the community, the team spearheaded the activity “Presyon Ko, Isasayaw Ko!” a 30-45-minute dance routine held every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, at 5 in the afternoon at the Covered Court, Barangay Hall. The dance routines alternate between Zumba steps and a cardio workout video by the American Health Association.

            The activity began without much expectation as only few people attended. But in the next few schedules, more and more residents joined the activity, including children. To the shock of the team members, even a few elderly joined in.

            Although the activity was tiring, the team members and the residents enjoyed it very much; smiles replaced sweats and sores, and hearts grew stronger and healthier.

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Basic Techniques in Measuring Blood Pressure

Basic Techniques in Measuring Blood Pressure

Theme: "Kuhag BP sa Saktong Pamaagi"

            Previously, the team has spent their first few days identifying hypertensive subjects in the community. On the 13^th of April, volunteers and participants of the First Aid training last October 2014 came back together and attended the Blood Pressure Training conducted by the team entitled Basic Techniques in Measuring Blood Pressure, with the theme: “Kuhag BP sa Saktong Pamaagi”.

            The mini-seminar started at 9AM. Fourteen volunteers and new recruits attended. The training was headed by Apple Mae Roullo and assisted by the members of the team. The content of the training included the parts of the sphygmomanometer and stethoscope, instructing the patient not to smoke, not to drink stimulants, and rest prior to blood pressure measuring, identification of the brachial and radial arteries, measuring the exact level of pressure to be pumped, and proper measuring of blood pressure.

   Eight sphygmomanometers and stethoscopes were lent by the group members for practice purposes. Each participant was partnered with another participant or student doctor and took turns in acting as the patient and BP taker. The participants were given a good 40 minutes to practice all of the steps. After 40 minutes, everybody took a 15-minute recess, with foods and drinks provided by the student doctors. Afterwards, a final demonstration was done by Doc Apple prior to the graded examination of the participants.

The team members acted as the examiners, observing each step of the blood pressure taking process of each participant. Each step was graded as either Done or Not Done with a total score of 15. Most of the participants have performed well: 12 out of 14 have scored 15 out of 15.

The training concluded with delegation of roles to each volunteers as Hypertensive Patrollers for each district in the barangay. The following are the patrollers for each district:

District 1 – Adelfa Soriño

District 2 – Jenepher Dausan

District 3 – Jorah Mae Puntanar

District 4 – Felix Villanueva

District 5 – Novie Jane Tanudra

District 6 – Warlyn Tanudra

District 7 – Delia Villavito

On Wednesday, April 15^th, during the community assembly, the team presented the Hypertensive Patrollers to the people and bequeathed to barangay captain, Hon. Alberto Callao 5 sphygmomanometers and stethoscopes. Team Goin and the people of the community of Goin give their greatest gratitude to the Ateneo de Zamboanga University – School of Medicine and Dr. Amelyn S. Ulanghutan for sponsoring the BP apparatuses. This activity would not have been possible without their unconditional help.

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Back to inspire and work for a better community

Travel and Settling

            The end of the second year of our medical education marks the start of our 3^rd community exposure. Barangay Goin, Liloy has fondly become one of our dearest homes. There is no question that we have come to be more familiar of the people of the community, and not only their faces, but also their names and family backgrounds.

            We traveled for the municipality on the 25^th of March at 7 in the morning and arrived at around noon. We made our first stop at the Rural Health Unit of Liloy to meet with the Municipal Health Officer and our preceptor, Dr. Nanette Digamon. Necessary market goods were also bought in the Poblacion prior to traveling to the barangay.

            The dry season has never spared us a day since arriving at Goin. Water has become scarce, our LPG tank was malfunctioning, the water dispenser was leaking, and the heat was excruciatingly inconsiderate.

            The first week proved to be a challenge. Fortunately, the team was not easily discouraged. We worked harder; we collected water from the elementary school and carried the pails back home, we also settled for slow cooking by using carbon, and we had to be contented with lukewarm water.

            Settling in, on the first week was tiring, but ultimately fulfilling.

CHP Activities

            During the first week, the team focused on identifying all Hypertensives in the barangay of Goin. The team followed the Joint National Committee-7 guideline on Hypertension. Baseline blood pressure readings, history of hereditary illnesses, co-morbidities, and lifestyle activities were recorded. These data will be used in the production of the “BP card” under the Community Health Program on Hypertension, spearheaded by Team Goin’s Apple Mae Roullo and Zain Al-Abiddin Nuruddin.

           The BP cards will be the subjects’ IDs; these will be used for easier monitoring and recording of blood pressures. In collaboration with the municipality’s Rural Health Unit, the subjects may obtain free Anti-Hypertensive medications appropriate for the patients’ medical history.

The program for promotion of proper solid waste management in the community has started identifying the willingness and feasibility of the activity of Vermiculture and Vermicasting Facility. While going house-to-house to identify hypertensives, the family members were inquired as to their knowledge of Vermiculture and Vermicasting and if they are willing to give their support in the construction of a facility in the community.

           Districts 3, 5, and 7 have been covered in the first week.

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