Gallery & Testimonials

As a medical student living  in a mountainous community for a month it has given me the opportunity to interact with local residents and gain a deeper understanding of their healthcare needs. I have seen how the harsh living conditions and geographical barriers often make it difficult for people to receive timely medical care. It is not uncommon to see patients traveling long distances on foot, sometimes for several hours, to reach the nearest medical facility. Despite these challenges, I have been inspired by the resilience and determination of the people in this community. I have seen how local healthcare workers go above and beyond to provide quality care, often with limited resources. I have witnessed how community members come together to support each other during times of illness and adversity. 

During the second exposure I got to finally experience a proper community engagement, unlike the shorter 1 week of the first exposure, I managed to spend more time with the locals, absorbing as much of their culture, kindness and generosity. Ive learned as much from them as they learned from us. Overall the time spent was priceless.

On the 2nd exposure, we had a house-to-house survey for our primary data collection. It was hard and exhausting because in Labe, some of the puroks are far from the “sentro” of the barangay so we had to hike mountains for hours. We also had a lot of paperworks since we manually counted the results of the survey. The whole exposure was tiring, both physically and mentally but it was also undeniably fun since it was our first exposure as a group. It was a rollercoaster ride but it sure made me a realize a lot of things. It was an eye-opener for me — that this world is beyond just comfort. I was able to see how people are struggling but are still grateful. and it moved me. Labe touched my heart. 

It was a humbling experience to be able to connect with people and see the living conditions in Labe. I met over a hundred residents during our house-to-house survey that have willingly shared their experiences and struggles in their own community. It was heartwarming that they opened up and trusted us completely with their concerns. I truly believe this is the main reason why ADZU-SOM really wants the medical students to be immersed in a far flung community as the health issues there are real and serious and are in need of immediate attention to provide real solutions. 

For this second exposure, we had our house to house survey. I realized some houses cannot hardly use the health facilities in their community. In return, seeing how poor their health seeking behavior are. In this we need to come up with a plan on how to solve this. 

As a medical student assigned in Labe, my experience has been an eye opening. I have witnessed the health care professionals who are dedicated to serving the community despite of limited resources. One of the most striking things about being assigned in the community is the high prevalence of non communicable diseases. Lack of access to healthcare and healthy lifestyle choices contribute to a higher burden of diseases such as hypertension, diabetes and obesity. It has been inspiring to see healthcare workers find innovative ways to educate and empower patients to take control of their health. 

So technically, it was the 1st time that our group lived in the same roof. It was difficult at first but eventually we were able to adjust with each other. 

2nd exposure was the time we had our house-to-house survey. It was fun until one day we had to go to the farthest purok (Gaway-Gaway). It was scorching hot that day and we had to hike 2 mountains to get to that purok for like 2 hours and 2 hours going back. anyways, we had fun though. For me, it was the most unforgettable activity during our community exposure. 

There are several things I would like to share as part of our 2nd exposure in Barangay Labe. One of our objectives was to conduct house-to-house survey in all households and be able to identify what are the pertinent health problems. I have learned that health is being less prioritized by some of the locals due to the focus on sustaining their daily needs. They would choose not to seek medical assistance until they can still bear the symptoms. There are some who seek early medical assistance, however, due to financial constraint, cannot fully comply with the medications, thus, poor prognosis. Knowing these situations in Labe, as a pursuing medical student, It struck me to move forward and engage deeper with them through giving health advocacies. Even by doing small things, I believe they would create great significance to the community. Also, spending time with the locals made me realize how simple is better. Community Health helped me grow out of my comfort zone, learn to accept new challenges and trust the process.

My overall experience for this third exposure has been transformative. It has given me a newfound appreciation for nature and the outdoors, and  has taught me the importance of community and cultural diversity, and has made me appreciate the toughness and strength of people living in Labe. I am grateful for this experience and the opportunity to learn from them. 

Third exposure was a bit “chill” as compared to the previous exposure. We started to implement our strategies on our community health plans — Hypertension, Solid Waste Management and the Lack of Basic Health Resources — such as mass BP taking, WACS, core group discussions. It was fun because we were finally starting in doing something for our barangay. It felt good to see the smiles of the residents. I could really see in their eyes that they’re happy and it made me happier.  

We return again for our 3rd exposure, already familiar, it felt as if we dove straight to our duties as medical students carrying out the health plans for the community. It was there that we got a deeper sense of who they were as individuals and as a community. Adjusted to the circumstances presented to us, our time there was happier and more memorable. 

Thought it would be lighter compared to the previous exposure but turned out that it was a lot more heavier because we had to put our CHP's into actions which includes addressing healthcare needs of the community and working with LGU's, Barangay Officals, other healthcare providers and community organizations to implement our plans. It was so challenging yet fullfiling because we were able to impart knowledge to the people in the community. 

Community Health Management is not just CHM.. It is a critical component of improving the health of an entire community. 

The goal for our third exposure was to implement the health plans in our community. It was a fulfilling experience to be able to provide health counseling to people over several weeks while monitoring their health status or even just talking to someone about simple, healthy lifestyle adjustments they could make. It was this exposure that made me realize that my goal as a medical student is to bring awareness to health issues that a lot of people experience and to meet their needs in a sustainable way.

On our third exposure, we are very grateful for the cooperation and active participation of the people in the community. We were able to garner numerous activities with the help of the barangay officials and barangay health workers. This is a manifestation of their support to our programs. With that the place has a potential to improve more on health programs. 

My experience for this exposure has been challenging, rewarding and life changing. I have seen the impact that poverty can have on healthcare access and outcomes. I have witnessed some of the residents in Labe find hard in accessing healthcare due to financial problem which can lead to increased rates of chronic diseases, preventable diseases and poor health outcome. However, despite of these challenges, I have seen healthcare workers work tirelessly to provide quality care for the patients in need. 

For our 3rd exposure, we were tasked to implement the community health problems we identified last time we visited. I admit there has been a struggle in making the community participate in our plans, however, I am deeply grateful for the barangay officials, barangay health workers, and barangay health station staff who gave their time and effort to make our implementations possible. Every exposure, I take each opportunity to understand the community and how they are in order for us to better relate with them. Indeed establishing rapport goes a very long way.