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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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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