(D9) THE END AND THE BEGINNING: OF DUTIES, NEWFOUND STRENGTHS, AND CLASS SUSPENSIONS

The supposedly two-week summer immersion program has finally ended. I am still uncertain whether our field deployment will be extended into the following week. However, the three and a half days I spent immersed in the municipality of Alfonso—joining barangay health workers and meeting the Mayor—have helped me realize how every detail in public health truly matters.

I used to observe the efforts of the Alfonso RHU from a distance, mainly through their consistent updates on social media. But being on the ground gave me a clearer picture of how dedicated they are to community service.

It is clear that they regularly visit households to check on each resident’s well-being, including monitoring vital signs such as blood sugar levels. There is visible cooperation between barangay officials and municipal health workers. They work together closely, checking on the health of Alfonso’s residents with commitment and compassion. From my field experiences and by closely following the Alfonso Municipal Health Office's Facebook page, I have reflected on three important lessons:

Being a public health worker means going beyond your job description. Even during calamities, we must reach out to those in need. Our service should continue beyond the typical 8-to-5 schedule, because our work is not driven solely by salary but by a genuine desire to help others. Our goal is to reduce suffering and do no harm.
We draw strength from the people around us. Our colleagues and the barangay residents serve as our partners in service. They act as our eyes and ears on the ground, especially when we cannot personally visit every area. Building camaraderie and maintaining strong relationships with the people we work with is essential.
I must look beyond class suspensions. My future role involves caring for lives, which is a noble calling. This vocation demands sacrifice and extra effort. I need to develop a mindset that is prepared for situations beyond normal schedules, because health needs and emergencies do not follow a fixed timetable. They can happen at any moment,

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(D2) ZERO OPEN DEFECATION: DENGUE, INFORMATION DISSEMINATION, AND THE GENEROSITY OF ALFONSO RESIDENTS

Ma'am, paano niyo po tinatapon and dumi at diaper ni baby? That is the question I asked multiple times today. Medicine does not only involve the human body. It is highly influenced by multiple facets that contributes to the well-being of a person. Today, I learned the importance of a clean environment, health education, and social interaction for future Doktors ng Bayan. We started the day with a talk led by one of the health workers, Sir John Ren, about dengue. Doctor Elie also mentioned out of the hat facts about mosquitos that I never heard of, but she emphasized, is needed for future dengue surveillance. I did not know that a mosquito could fly up to 5 feet, nor they could travel a distance of 20 feet. It was a very informative experience for me. As we finished the dengue discussion, I volunteered to go with Ma'am Cynthia, Ma'am Telay, and Sir John Ren for monitoring Zero open defecation in three different Barangays. Doc Elie proudly mentioned that the municipality of...

DAY 0 - THE ORIENTATION

PROJECT AI- ALFONSO IMMERSION TO COMMENCE IN LESS THAN 24 HOURS !!! Today marks the orientation for our summer immersion program. We are tasked to take part in experiencing the programs under our designated RHU within the Cavite province. We were given multiple objectives for this program, including the integration of complementary medicine — how culture affects the public's perception of health and treatment plans. Through the orientation, I was able to put a distinct picture of how an RHU works. It is diverse and is coupled with multiple programs needed by specific municipalities. As our doctor in charge orients us in our duties and responsibilities during our time at Alfonso, I was able to meet with other second years who are assigned in the same municipality with me. They were able to help us in some areas that we are not aware of, such as transportation, preparing survey forms, and scheduling of tasks. As I finish my orientation today, I realize the importance of ...

(D6) SUSPENSION: OF REMOTE MEETINGS AND SILENT BATTLES

Classes are suspended again. But we managed to meet and get some documents done for our future report. We met at around afternoon to discuss our program planning as well as our CAM report to finish. We are able to accomplish some tasks today, and I was able to rest a little as I am not feeling well. Nothing much happened today, but this experience made me realize that we should not waste our time in service. We can create programs and help the health system even remotely. This is the advantage given to us by technology. As I become a future doctor, I will make sure to use this in good purpose to help others and to improve the public health system one meeting at a time.

SUMMER IMMERSION PROGRAM

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