Community 

On March 26, 2022, establishing rapport and gathering of secondary survey were one of the few objectives given to us during this exposure. Unfortunately, due to the pandemic restrictions, we were deployed by pair every week to comply our community health management exposure. Despite this, we were able to conduct courtesy call with the barangay captain of our assigned barangay, Ms. Emma P. Lirazan and met other officials and barangay health workers. We had to stay in the barangay health station as our temporary accommodation. Also, we attended barangay activities such as Immunization Day care of the Rural Health Unit. There was also an opportunity for us to participate in RHU duties and experience real life patient assessment with the supervision of our Municipal Health Officers. 

Last August 27, 2022, we returned once again to continue our community health management exposure in Barangay Labe. This time, we were tasked to conduct primary survey which means we have to do house-to-house surveys in order to get first hand data of the community. It was challenging as a group, to wake up early, and prepare ourselves to walk several kilometers on a daily basis just to reach our goal. One core memory would be our opportunity to travel on foot to the farthest purok of Labe, which is Gaway-Gaway. We had to go in the middle of the forest, walk on top of a mountain and travel across streams to reach the purok. Once arrived, we were welcomed with coconuts by the purok leader. It almost took us 4 hours to travel back and forth. Despite the circumstances, it was a very humbling experience to know that there are people who reside there. It was an eye opening experience to us especially in terms of healthcare. We wouldn't be able to make it without our ever helpful barangay health workers. There were other matters we had to endure during this exposure, from tallying to completing the paper. Overall it was a great experience and definitely humbled us. 

On February 16, 2023, we had our 3rd exposure. Upon presenting our identified community health problems to our panelists, we were now tasked to implement the activities we have in mind to help the community. Out of the 5 community health problems we presented, only 3 remained. Improper Solid Waste Management, High Incidence of Hypertension, and Lack of Resources for Healthcare Services. We managed to conduct Waste Analysis and Characterization Study, IEC Distribution of Solid Waste, Solid Waste Management Seminar, Materials Recovery Facility Clean Up Drive, and other Solid Waste activities. For Hypertension, we were able to conduct a Mass Blood Pressure Taking activity with the help of our barangay health workers. Also, distribution of IEC materials with health teaching were also provided to the community. Lastly, for our last community health problem, we were able to administer a knowledge assessment of the community regarding IMCI. 

On August 10, 2023, we returned to our assigned community locations to continue our goal of implementing the proposed solutions for a brighter and more sustainable future of Labe. With this, there were numerous implementations done during this period per Community Health Plans.

For Hypertension, the team managed to pull off:
(1) HATAW Labe: Incorporation of a Zumba Fitness Program for Hypertension Management (2) Provision of Health Education on DASH Diet (3) Provision of BP Monitoring Booklet (4) Installation of BP Monitoring Stations (5) Provision of Training to BHWs and Purok Volunteers on Proper Blood Pressure Monitoring through Seminar Workshop (6) BP referral Algorithm (7) Monitored, classified, and referred hypertensive individuals (8) Updated Barangay Council through meetings, reviewed barangay ordinances, and created barangay resolutions.

For Solid Waste Management, the other proposed solutions were already implemented last exposure and only a handful of activities were continued namely:

(1) Reviewed Barangay Ordinances (2) Provision of Health Education on Proper Hand Hygiene and Dengue Prevention at the Labe Elementary School (3) Meeting for Budget Allocation (4) Installation of IEC Materials in strategic locations in the community

For our last Community Health Plan, our team struggled to identify due low strength data to support our claims, from Malnutrition down to Immunization. Upon consulting the issues and concerns to our preceptors and community facilitators, we are now assigned with a new Health Problem which is Zero Open Defecation. 

For Zero Open Defecation, these are the initially implemented activities:

(1) Provision of IEC Materials for Health Education on Zero Open Defecation at Labe Elementary School (2) Conducted Health Education on Zero Open Defecation within the community (3) Reviewed data of households with no toilet (4) Installation of IEC materials on strategic locations within the community

For our other activities, we were lucky enough to assist a Medical Mission in our community, allowing us to serve the local residents, do an annual circumcision event for boys, and have our monthly Rural Health Unit duties in coordination with Dr. Yrl Agbayani & Dr. Adnilre Verzon. 

On February 21, 2024, we went back to our assigned communities to keep working on making Labe a better and more sustainable place. We made numerous changes based on the Community Health Plans.  

For Hypertension, the team managed to pull off:

(1) Re-election of Core Members for Hypertension Health Club

(2) Conducted Mass Blood Pressure Monitoring

(3) Community Advocacy and Health Education on Hypertension Awareness, Risk Factors, Symptoms and Prevention, with DASH diet provided for Senior Citizens

For Solid Waste Management, the other proposed solutions were already implemented last exposure and only a handful of activities were continued namely:

(1) Re-Election of Solid Waste Management Core Team

(2) Meeting with Barangay Kagawad on Health and Sanitation regarding Bimonthly updates

For Zero Open Defecation, these are the initially implemented activities:

(1) Meeting with Barangay Council for Budget Allotment 

(2) Creation of Toilet Sanitation Team and Purok Enforcers

(3) Meeting with Barangay Council, Barangay Health Station Staff and Concerned Residents

For our other activities, we were lucky enough to have our monthly Rural Health Unit duties in coordination with Dr. Yrl Agbayani & Dr. Adnilre Verzon. 

Once Clerkship was done, on November 03, 2024, we returned to our designated communities to continue our efforts in improving Labe and making it a more sustainable place . We made some changes based on the Community Health Plans.  

For Hypertension, the team managed to pull off:

(1) Council Meeting with the Barangay Officials

(2) Hypertension Lecture with the Barangay Health Workers 

For Solid Waste Management, the other proposed solutions were already implemented last exposure and only a handful of activities were continued namely:

(1) Council Meeting with the Barangay Officials

(2) Solid Waste Management (WACS) Seminar with MENRO

For Zero Open Defecation, these are the initially implemented activities:

(1) Council Meeting with the Barangay Officials

(2) Continuous Evaluation and Monitoring among the remaining households with no toilet

For our other activities, we were lucky enough to have our monthly Rural Health Unit and BEMONC duties in coordination with Dr. Yrl Agbayani & Dr. Adnilre Verzon. 

We hope to return back to Labe with more plans in mind in order to help the barangay with its respective Community Health Issues.

For our 7th exposure, last January 2025, we returned to our designated communities to continue our efforts in improving Labe and making it a more sustainable place. We made some changes based on the Community Health Plans.  

For Hypertension, the team managed to pull off:

(1) Re-election of the NCD Club

(2) Evaluation and Monitoring of Implemented Programs

For Solid Waste Management, the other proposed solutions were already implemented last exposure and only a handful of activities were continued namely:

(1) Recommended procurement of trash bins per purok that will serve as point of waste segregation for three types of wastes 

(2) Waste Analysis Characterization Study with MENRO

(3) Conducted Health Teaching on Solid Waste Management on Elementary School Students

For Zero Open Defecation, these are the initially implemented activities:

(1) Council Meeting with the Barangay Officials

(2) House-to-House monitoring 

(3) Conducted Health Teaching to Elementary School students on Proper Hand Washing

For our other activities, we were lucky enough to have our monthly Rural Health Unit and BEMONC duties in coordination with Dr. Yrl Agbayani & Dr. Adnilre Verzon. 

We hope to return back to Labe with more plans in mind in order to help the barangay with its respective Community Health Issues.

For our 8th exposure, last March 20, 2025, we once again returned to our communities to continue our efforts in improving Labe and making it a more sustainable place. Presented below are updates based on the Community Health Plans.  

For Hypertension, the team managed to pull off:

(1) Health Education on Hypertension during General Assembly

(2) Mass Blood Pressure Monitoring

(3) House to House Blood Pressure Monitoring

(4) Medication Adherence Monitoring

(5) Requested and Procured Medications from Non-Government Organizations (Varoz Marketing)

For Solid Waste Management, the other proposed solutions were already implemented last exposure and only a handful of activities were continued namely:

(1) Clean-up drive 

(2) Orientation and Seminar on backyard gardening

(3) Health Teaching on Proper Solid Waste Management

For Zero Open Defecation, these are the initially implemented activities:

(1) Meeting with Barangay Council on Zero Open Defecation updates

(2) House to House monitoring and updates on the construction of the toilet facility

(3) Provision of Toilet Cleaning Tools

For our other activities, we were lucky enough to have our monthly Rural Health Unit and BEMONC duties in coordination with Dr. Yrl Agbayani & Dr. Adnilre Verzon. 

We will be returning to our respective communities for our 4th and last exposure, bringing with us the knowledge and experience gained through out the years. Our group will continue to finish and monitor each health programs, capping off the immersion with good impact. 

For our 9th exposure, last May 27, 2025, it was our final leg to finish off our community health plans and ended with a successful disengagement last July 25, 2025. 

For Hypertension, the team managed to pull off:

(1) Health Education on Hypertension during General Assembly

(2) Mass Blood Pressure Monitoring

(3) House to House Blood Pressure Monitoring

(4) Medication Adherence Monitoring

For Solid Waste Management, the team managed to finish with the following:

(1) Clean-up drive 

(2) Backyard Gardening contest

(3) Health Teaching on Proper Solid Waste Management

(4) Shoot-the-bottle Recycling Contest 

(5) Barangay Ordinance on Solid Waste Management

(6) Turn over Ceremony of Trash Bins per purok

For Zero Open Defecation, these are the following implemented activities before disengaging with the community:

(1) Zero Open Defecation Health Teaching

(2) House to House monitoring and updates on the construction of the toilet facility

(3) Provision of Toilet Cleaning Tools

(4) Identified as Municipal-Level Zero Open Defecation by the Rural Health Unit Sanitation Office

We continued rendering services at the Rural Health Unit Out-Patient Department and BEMONC duties in coordination with Dr. Yrl Phares Agbayani & Dr. Adnilre Verzon. 

For the duration of our entire stay in the Municipality of Ipil and Barangay Labe, we would like to express our heartfelt gratitude to those we shared memories with. As future physicians, we learned and witnessed the reality of Philippine Healthcare and how we can help augment help to those in need.

Truly, community medicine left us becoming Doctors with a heart.

AMDG.