LOOKING BACK

Shai and Cholo (Week 1)

"As people who grew up in an urban setting, living in a mountainous community was a new thing. Living our day to day life without the advantages of using our phones, laptops, and tablets  was a very difficult adjustment but a much needed detoxification from the city life. Fresh air, serene ambience, and a friendly neighborhood, these things can be found in Brgy. Tomitom" 

- Shai and Cholo

Sab and Neeza (Week 2)

"Our experience during the immersion made us realize the importance of public health and we are lucky to be a part of ADZU-SOM's program to provide health assistance not only in Zamboanga City but in areas deprived of medical assistance" 

- Sab and Neeza

Roy and Jill (Week 3)

"This was a new experience for us, being in a community for a week certainly gave us a fresh perspective in medicine especially towards public health." 

- Roy and Jill

Nich and Cholo (Week 4)

"Living in Brgy. Tomitom was very refreshing. The people in the community were very accommodating and friendly, We had no problem living in the Brgy. except for the lack mobile reception and transportation. It was a fruitful and fulfilling experience, Looking forward for our next exposure." 

-Nich and Cholo

The Team is back! After 4 months of studying and training in Zamboanga City, The Team traveled for 2 hours and is back in the Municipality of Ipil to assist Barangay Tomitom in reaching sustainability in terms of health. This time, the team will be conducting surveys to every households within the community to identify their health problems and ultimately the health problems in the barangay.

Prior to conducting our objectives for this exposure, the team took some time to appreciate few of the many things that will make you prefer living outside the city. The fresh cool breeze, cold rivers and springs, and the wonderful people makes every community exposure memorable.

General Assembly  

The assembly was conducted in Brgy. Tomitom's covered court last Sept. 17, 2022. The objective of this event is to hear the voices of the residents towards their issues and concerns in terms of health. The team was assisted by Barangay officials, staffs, and Barangay health workers,  with the permission from Hon. Elsie Bolodo.

The residents raised their concerns and along with our team, the problems and concerns of the residents were ranked according to their priorities.

COVID Vaccination, Expanded Immunization Program, and Prenatal Services  

The team assisted in the medical services provided by the local government unit along with the  Nurse, Midwife, and Barangay health workers.

Barangay Council Meeting 

The community has been facing health problems even before it became a barangay. While the local government unit along with its officials have been proactive in dealing with these problems, the prevalence of diseases and wrong practices among the community people keeps the community unhealthy. 

The meeting with the Barangay officials discussing programs, projects and ordinances would serve as a stepping stone in achieving a healthy Barangay Tomitom.

Top 5 Health Problems in Barangay Tomitom

BP Monitoring on Identified Hypertensive Individuals

ZUMBA: Dance the Hypertension Away!

What better way to lose weight than dancing? Scheduled Zumba session targeting identified hypertensive individuals and those who were interested to join for fitness. With the help of BHWs assigned per purok, people of all ages were encouraged to join the session. The Zumba sessions were held in 2 puroks every 5:30pm.

Non-communicable Diseases Club Recruitment

The Team presented our plans for the barangay to be discussed with the officials. This includes our plans to decrease and control The prevalence of hypertension, to assist in the formulation and implementation of solid waste management, and assist in decreasing the number of households without toilet access.

After meeting with the Brgy. Council, The team conducted an event targetting the residents with non communicable diseases such as Hypertension and other commorbidities. This event focuses on Health teaching with free health assessments.

The members of NCD club elected their officers for a more efficient communication with the health center and Brgy. officials whileserving as a support group for the members with commordbidities.

The team proceeded with the weekly Zumba in the 2 major Puroks with the goal of uplifting other residents to exercise for the prevention of Hypertension.

vVital signs seminar conducted by the team as to refresh the local health workers on how to take vitals signs, It's significance, and it's impact in maintaining the health of the residents.

The goal of meeting with the affiliated agencies is to ensure collaboration towards the implementation of solid waste management and acquisition of necessary materials for the implementation.

 To assist us in our goal of spreading knowledge and information in Brgy. Tomitom, We invited Mr. Felix Badon to give us a short lecture on how to deal with the waste generated in the Barangay.

One of the key to making the implementation sustainable is to teach the new generation the proper way of managing solid waste.

Including children in Tomitom Elementary School. The team conducted games regarding proper segragation to children from K1-G6 with permission of Mr. Weymar Ancheta, The school principal.

Re-organizing and Re-enforcing the ordinance in Brgy. Tomitom with the help of MENRO led by Mr. Badon.

Planting of Neem seeds in Lumbia Eco park for the Go green movement in Brgy. Tomitom.

Monthly clean up drive established by the barangay as stated in their ordinance. 

Formulation of ZOD officers for faster communication and transaction with the barangay regarding the procurement of toilets and construction of septic tanks. Serving as a support group for other residents to reach out to the barangay for their toilet related problem.

Re-survey of households without toilet based on our gathered data from the previous exposure. The group assigned in this health plan hiked a bunch of mountains and crossed rivers.

After gathering more data, the team discussed on ways to assist the residents with the help of the BNS and Barangay officials.

Setting up plans for the year 2024-2026, The team made a short lecture on the main health problems in the barangay hoping for an added assistance in man power and funds.

The team also gave a lecture towards dengue prevention during the linggo ng kabataan celebration

Linggo ng kabataan celebration gave us the opportunity to meet and bond with the youth of brgy. tomitom in hopes of future collaboration regarding the health status of the residents in Brgy. Tomitom.

The team was called for a 2 day duty in the Rural Health Unit under the guidance of Dr. Yrl Agbayani.

Equiped with more knowledge and skills, the team is ready to continue what they started 2years ago.. To better the health status of Brgy. Tomitom! 

The team arrived in Brgy. tomitom on a Wednesday afternoon after their last semester of classes. the team is now embarking on a pre medical clerkship journey and what better way to showcase their gathered skills than helping the community. 

The team relentlessly reinforced the projects started 2 years ago by strengthening connections with the affiliated agencies and concerned institutions.

Even with the scorching heat, The team continues the fight against NCD by conducting aerobic exercises and constant monitoring of identified residents with non communicable diseases such as hypertension and diabetes.

A green environment requires a strong effort from both the residents and the government. The team serves as a bridge to further connect the thoughts and efforts of both parties towards the goal of having a cleaner and greener Brgy. tomitom.

After gathering data of residents with out toilet facilities, the team affiliated with institutions concerned for the health and sanitation regarding open defacation and improper toilet sanitation.

The team now on their final year in medschool will give everything they've got in their 10 months community exposure to aid the community people in their fight towards achieving a better quality of life in terms of health! 

The team meets up with the community preceptors- Dr. Adnilre D. Verzon and Dr. Yrl Phares Agbayani. To re establish the roles and responsibilities in our last community immersion. 

The team requested an audience with the barangay officials to review the ongoing projects regarding Hypertension, Solid waste management, and Toilet sanitation. A rally of ideas were pitched in during the meeting, this led to  series of projects for the betterment of the community.

The battle towards hypertension continues. With the ideas pitched by the barangay officials, A BP controlled Brgy.Tomitom is now at sight.

The team is now halfway through the 10 months exposure and the fight to improve the community's quality of life in terms of health is getting heated up now more than ever!

The team is set to monitor, evaluate, and manage the projects that were started 4 years ago!

The battle towards hypertension continues.

With continuous health teaching and monitoring, the residents are keenly checking on their blood pressures and seeks regularly consults at the Brgy. Health station for their individual health status.