DOCTOR TO THE BARRIOS
Written by: Juan M. Flavier, M.D.
The Following is a part of my reflection paper back in college:
Far Eastern University
“Doctor to the Barrios”
-A Reflection-
Primary Health Care 2
Mrs. Rachel D. Laxamana
While we aim to create a new society, we must not forget we are doing it with an old society.
- James Yen
I think, to gain insight into the life of the indigenous people in the community, and be able to completely understand and help them, one must first learn to live the way they do. Not just merely knowing what are the kinds of food they prefer but learning to eat with them; or not simply be familiar with their beliefs, but become skilled with their practices; and not only to be acquainted with their misconceptions, but to study and affirm that these really are fallacies and detrimental, making the first step to bring all of these to a halt. It is necessary that we make an immense effort to understand their ways. The way the workers should change the lifestyle of the Filipino farmers taking into consideration their values, preconception and adverse practice will be an impressive and effective means of advancing a supportive way of life.
THE WORKERS: SCIENCE MISSIONARIES
Take your knowledge from the classroom and the laboratory out to the fields and homes where the people live.
- Seaman Knapp
While reading the selection, I was imagining myself as one of those Rural Reconstruction Workers who are dedicating their lives refining these native people to help them dispose of their unconstructive idea and recognize other constructive means of having a better life. It is amazing that these people are willing to render community service in these far-flung and difficult areas of the country. I come up with preconceived ideas about the intrinsic worth of the RRW, how they facilitate to the needs of the farmers and other people in the community. They share something worthy to the community by applying what they’ve learned in the city, and they consider the appreciation and the gratitude that the barrio people give is enough to pay their effort. The government should give adequate financial incentives for the general practitioners to ensure continuous provision of quality health care service.
INCREASING PLANT PRODUCTION
Come, ye thankful people come,
Raise the song of harvest home;
All is safely gathered in
Ere the winter storm begins.
All the blessings of the field,
All the stores the gardens yield,
All the fruits in full supply
Ripened ‘neath the summer sky.
-Henry Alford
Every people shall have the passion of using and cultivating his land to get the numerous benefits from it. Population in our country is rapidly increasing. This means that more people will need more food. Plant production will help provide for this need. Plants are important to man for many reasons. They provide food, shelter, medicine, clothing and many products useful to daily life. The RRW’s are doing a very important job teaching the farmers the primary and efficient way of increasing plant production. The farmers shall undertake practical application of concepts of raising vegetable crops primarily in their backyard. We will realize that plant production does not only supply fresh vegetable for family members, but it also provides a wholesome recreational activity and self-fulfillment for a profitable undertaking. They can also apply the techniques of harvesting and marketing farm products. Marketing plays an important role in the profitability of farm products. Profits can be realized through marketing schemes.
GROWING ANIMALS FOR FOOD AND PROFIT
If you give a man a fish, you feed him for one day. If you teach him to fish, you feed him for many days.
-Kuan-Tzu
Enlightening the Filipino farmers about the importance of growing animals is one mean of replenishing his needs for food, nutrition and profit. It is because animal production does not only supply the family with protein food, but it adds greatly to family income. Basic information on the raising of animals will enable putting up a backyard project on animal production, considering other factors such as describing the prospects of poultry and livestock raising, and the ideal site for poultry and livestock projects. We should continue assisting the families until raising animals for food become common among Filipino community especially in the rural areas. Animal production wastes are sometimes detrimental to the health of the family members so it is very necessary to regard the maintenance and the cleanliness and sanitation of housing facilities, fixtures and equipment. Animal production also gives a sense of fulfillment for being productive. It may include the raising of poultry, swine, cattle, goats, sheep and rabbits for family consumption or for commercial purposes. Poultry production is a good business enterprise through which a family can earn a good income. The attitude of the neighbors towards the animal production enterprise must be favorable.
COOPERATIVES: A STEP TOWARD
The best charity is to prevent a man from having to accept charity; the best alms are those that enable a man to dispense with alms.
- The Talmud
It is in the rural areas where low-income population is found. A barrio credit union is a very valuable tool and makes an important contribution to the common welfare. The barrio farmer will have to increase his effort managing livelihood programs to increase production, and consequently income so he will be able deposit into the union. It will also help the farmer to be more productive and cautious because it is their own profit that is in the union. It encourages the habit of saving and using the funds wisely. Productive projects like these strengthen the credit union, which can afford to lend money for small-scale purposes only.
RURAL HOME INDUSTRIES
Be not afraid to do manual labor in your homes. Productive toil is conducive to economic security and adds to the wealth of the nation.
- Jose P. Laurel
Rural industries are important source of employment and development in the rural areas and could provide a source of profits to rural populace. The government should continue to encourage families to start establish home industries especially in the depressed areas for self-employment opportunities. The people will learn to allocate their resources efficiently which can be used for additional output that is productive. Rural home industries provide the family with a wholesome recreational activity which contributes to good health and keeps family members together.
BETTER HEALTH FOR THE BARRIOS
The sick have claims upon us, the well; the suffering on those without pain.
- Dr. Tom A. Dooley
Good health is the most important factor that should be considered when one has to improve the standard of living of every Filipino family. The government should be fully aware of the problem and commence to explore the reasons behind the slow response of farmers to health practices and modern environmental education. I suggest that to encourage quality health care at all levels of the health system the government should give awards to outstanding facilities and maintenance in every health centers in the barrio. We should be one with the government in its goal to make healthcare more accessible to the Filipino people. We feel privileged to be given the opportunity to partner with the government in this endeavor and be a part of the solution to the problems of healthcare in the country.
SANITARY WASTE DISPOSAL
Countries cannot release the full talents of their people unless they have healthy bodies.
- Dr. M. G. Candau
There is the existence of the endemic diseases in the barrio in relation to their total population. This is due to lack of environmental sanitation and proper health practices to the doctorless and remote areas in the barrio. The PRRM should not only give focus to the “toilet” thing but also be aware of the other health-concerned matter like the provision of other basic human amenities and meeting the need for new and improved rural water and waste disposal facilities.
The expansion of a rural waste disposal facility that I am talking about includes the collection, and treatment of sanitary, storm, and solid wastes. The “reduce, re-use, recycle system”. It will not only lessen the waste outputs but will also contribute to the beautification, alleviation of health hazards and promotion of the orderly growth of the rural areas of the nation.
FAMILY PLANNING IN THE BARRIOS
The growth rate of the Philippine population-one of the highest in the world-is adversely affecting economic growth.
-President Ferdinand E. Marcos
Larger family size means immense needs for family resources, such as large income for food, education for the children, house facilities and health maintenance factor. It can affect numerous aspects of women’s lives, including their health, their work inside and outside their homes, their roles within the family and their psychological well-being. Bigger family increases women’s workload since more children means additional household chores, such as cooking or washing clothes. I think family planning is the best answer to settle this problem. Many rural women are unaware of existing services, and those who are aware of them often find that doctors or hospitals are simply too far away. However, the need for quality reproductive health services is great. Urban and rural women's groups should work collaboratively to develop advocacy and education programs for women, including programs that provide counseling, information, education, and training on reproductive health, gender and sexuality.
EDUCATION OF THE MASSES
Hundreds of millions of men and women are tragic outsiders, held back from the mainstream of civilization by their inability to read, write and add.
- Richard Grenough
The government should place health and education among the "key interventions" and basic social services necessary to reduce poverty among Filipinos..If only the government can provide effective and affordable education to all the people in the rural areas not only to the farmers but also to the children of which who cannot attend school regularly because of poor finances, or perhaps because they have to help their families make a living.
And also I suggest that the PRRM and the government will establish programs that give training to parents, teachers, community volunteers on the care and educational development of children with disabilities, particularly those living in depressed areas.
I believe that this is one way to protect and eventually empower the most vulnerable and disadvantaged sectors of society.
SELF-GOVERNMENT AT THE RICE ROOTS
We are running a race with time. This race cannot be won by governmental action alone. It can be won only with active participation of citizens who can read the signs of our times.
-U Thant
TOTAL MOBILIZATION OF BARRIO MANPOWER FOR BARRIO UPLIFT is the ultimate goal of the program of self-government. Nevertheless, there seems to have been a very little chance to carry it out because most people believe that some of the officials are not doing their job well and know that a great majority of the commitments made are forgotten. This situation does not look after the call for good and conducive government anymore. In order to change the belief of the people, the barrio should produce a potential and effective leader again that will promote orderliness and establish a helpful and progressive community. That will be the only time that they can create an intelligent and effective followership.
MODEL FARM FAMILY PROJECT
As eternal as men and a bedrock of human society, the family serves as the seat of human affections, a refuge from all forms of social and economic insecurity, a mainspring of strength, a sanctuary of al of that beautiful and good, all that is human and humane.
-Belen Enrile Gutierrez
This project of the PRRM will really encourage every rural family to endeavor to improve their status concerning livelihood, health, education and self-government. A continuing program for the "comprehensive and integrated" delivery of social services seeks to help target families and communities in addressing their needs. This will make them systematic and goal-oriented. It may also evolve into some form of recreational activity for the family. Self-government have taken several important steps to accelerate economic and social development and have encouraged community participation in development programmes.
SOME FINAL WORDS
Nothing ever built arose to touch the skies,
Unless some man dreamed that, it should,
Some man believed that it could, and
Some man willed that it must.
- Eugene W. Kettering
This piece of account aroused my inquisitiveness about the thrilling way of life in different barrios. I think the problem in the barrios like these ones should be given focus by the government right from the start to improve the lifestyle and health condition of the people in the indigenous communities. Undeniably, the contributions of these people had greatly helped the growth of the economy. For, the country traditionally depends on agriculture. And one of the thrusts of the current administration is to strengthen agricultural production to attain food security. And the farmers are the first responsible in this sector. This will positively affect the health and nutrition of the Filipinos.
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