Becoming Health Conscious: Leading Communities in the Central Agri-Tourism Circuit
By: Melanie Holt | Photo By: GPC-BDH | Date: April 5, 2019
HEALTH CONSCIOUSNESS. Personnel of Bacnotan District Hospital (BDH) distribute various health education materials on the hazards of cigarette-smoking to tricycle drivers of the Municipality of Bacnotan on April 5, 2019 in observance of World Health Day. BDH conducts series of health lectures on diverse topics every month and invite the community particularly the Barangay Health Workers (BHWs) of Bacnotan to act as force multipliers in the dissemination of health information in every barangay. Through such activities regularly done, the health goal of Gov. Pacoy of a “Healthy La Union, Happy La Union by 2022,” will be achieved.
“The role of a healthcare institution is ever expanding. We as health care personnel do not only treat patients who come to our hospital, but also teach those who are not sick to take control over their health through education, hence, we reach out to the community through conduct of regular lectures such as this,” was the opening statement of Dr. Zenserly D. Pagaduan, Chief of Bacnotan District Hospital (BDH), during every health lectures conducted.
BDH has been holding lectures to create health awareness in the community and to increase initiatives to improve the well-being of the people in the hospital’s catchment areas, the Central Agri-Tourism Circuit namely; Bacnotan, San Juan, San Gabriel and San Fernando.
Since 2018, BDH has been carrying out free medical and dental missions to indigenous groups at Brgy. Arosip, Bacnotan; and free surgical operations to indigent members of the community at the hospital. During these missions, health advocacy lectures were also done.
Weekly lectures were conducted at the out-patient department or at the hospital’s conference room. Regular topics were prostate health; dengue fever; tuberculosis; heart care; proper hand hygiene; breastfeeding, maternal and children care including their rights; and family planning.
On June 26, 2018, BDH launched the Nephrology Club Program which aimed to facilitate patients with kidney diseases in their holistic care which was a major step towards the achievement of the hospital’s vision of becoming a Nephrology Center by 2022. During the conduct of all its lectures, individuals are always encouraged to have a healthy lifestyle to have good functioning kidneys.
BDH also encouraged the public to maintain a healthy and clean environment to prevent the spread of diseases by having several clean-up drives and tree-planting activities around the hospital; and coastal clean-up at barangays of Bacnotan namely; Tammocalao, Pandan, and Quirino last year.
Health teachings were not only restricted within the premises of the hospital. BDH personnel who are members assigned to different committees go out to schools and barangays. As of the first quarter this year, BDH has provided free medical and dental mission during the Children’s Health Caravan at Sta. Cruz Elementary School on January 30, 2019. Alongside the mission was the conduct of proper hand hygiene and nutrition to mothers, teachers and elementary pupils.
Topics about hepatitis, cancer, HIV/AIDS prevention, and proper hand hygiene have been discussed to students of Bacnotan National High School – Junior High School on January 24, 2019. Likewise, prevention of sexual abuse and exploitation, blood donor recruitment and HIV/AIDS prevention were advocated as well to Bitalag Integrated School Grades 10 and 11 students on February 12, 2019.
One of the strategic projects of BDH is “Education and Advocacy on Sexually-Transmitted Infections (STIs) and HIV Transmission Prevention among Locals, Tourism Workers, and Tourists in the Central Agri-Tourism Circuit; and Provision of HIV Counselling and Testing Services to Interested Individuals/Groups/Organizations/Institutions,” hence, this topic is always discussed in the community particularly to students because of the increasing HIV positivity incidence in the Philippines especially among ages 15-24 years old according to Department of Health data.
To promote this advocacy, BDH HIV/AIDS and STI Committee members distributed flyers and leaflets at the Provincial Government of La Union (PGLU) Health Booth on February 23, 2019 during the two-week celebration of La Union Day. Last year, BDH has also conducted three activities about this topic at the La Union Police Provincial Office (LUPPO), Camp Diego Silang, San Fernando City, La Union, having Acting Provincial Director, PSSupt. Ricardo G. Layug Jr., led his men together with BDH personnel in the ceremonial signing of Pledge of Support in the advocacy on HIV/AIDS and STI prevention with the theme, “Together, we can beat HIV/AIDS.”
BDH does not only tap schools and agencies in its advocacies but also in the public space. On March 7, 2019, tuberculosis prevention was advocated by distributing flyers and reading materials and talking to market-goers at Bacnotan Public Market.
Students from high schools in the Central Agri-Tourism Circuit namely; La Union National High School, Sto. Rosario National High School, Bacnotan National High School, and Bitalag Integrated School were also encouraged by BDH to take part in advocating health among the youth through visual arts by holding another poster and slogan-making contests with themes “Healthy Lifestyle Through Smoke-Free Environment” and the “Importance and Benefits of Breastfeeding” on March 20, 2019.
Simultaneous with the contest was the continuous conduct of another strategic project of BDH which is the “Provision of First Aid and Basic Life Support (BLS) Training to residents of the Central Agri-Tourism Circuit” at Brgy. Amontoc, San Gabriel, La Union. Same activity was also held last year at the surfing area of barangay Quirino, Bacnotan and at the Municipality of San Juan in partnership with the Municipal at Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Offices.
BDH is a partner of the Municipality of Bacnotan in the provision of health services in their “Dur-as ti Barangay Umay Mi Idar-ay.” This opportunity was also taken by BDH to conduct health teachings. By conducting such lectures in the grass-roots level, ordinary people of different age groups can openly ask and understand specific details entailing their well-being and enable them take initiative in caring for themselves and their families.
BDH still continues to conduct lectures at the hospital and its patient wards about breastfeeding, dental health, Down syndrome, leprosy, diabetes, ear care, prostate cancer, women’s heart health, rabies, tobacco smoking cessation, and haemophilia in the first quarter. Resource persons from other agencies were also invited to provide more understanding of certain topics. In the conduct of every lecture, the community particularly the Barangay Health Workers (BHWs) of Bacnotan were frequently invited to act as force multipliers in the dissemination of health information in every barangay. BHWs help connect the hospital and the people of the barangays they serve in which the opportunity of the lesser privileged to gain information on health care were increased.
Through conduct of regular lectures at and with the community, connections were built between the hospital, the local government leaders and the people for the improvement of access to healthcare. Linkages and coordination were strengthened especially to those who have less access to services. The support in the hospital’s programs and projects from other agencies and organizations were also gained.
Through participatory health education, people were equipped with the knowledge of preventive care which facilitates improvement in health status and have better impact in the quality of life which reduces the need for medical treatments, thus, decreases financial burden and increases productivity. This surely is one of the ways to achieve the health goal of Gov. Pacoy which is “Healthy La Union, Happy La Union by 2022.”
