Changing Names

Officially, on the 3rd of December, The Freudian Slip will be changing subtitle: from the general practice to doctor to the barrio. On the 3rd of December I will be going to Candoni and will serve the mountainous municipality of Candoni as their new Municipal Health Officer. In the last month, I have been bombarded with a lot of health programs of the Government: from E.P.I. to STH to AI to NTP to DOTS to SS to PHIC to GP to KOT to IMCI to BEMOC/CEMOC to a whole more of initials and acronyms. Being a doctor to the barrio therefore is not simply just a vacation. Like a resident inside a hospital, a rural doctor also has many responsibilities and opportunities to train. We will be having our regular CME (not another initial, gaddamit!) every 6 months. Our first CME will be held in Manila. Usually, CMEs are held in other provinces outside Manila but they schedule it alternately. In CMEs (or continuing medical education) we are to report on our accomplishments as MHOs (municipal health officer) of our municipality and listen to updates in the field of public health.

Of course after listening to lectures and reporting about our community diagnoses and health plan, CME is another opportunity to do R&R. After our DTTB experience, we have many options to follow. 1) proceed to residency training during which we will still be receiving our salary from the central office instead of having a plantilla position in the hospital, for as long as the training program is in a DOH hospital and the residency program is among the "list of specialty priorities" of the government; 2) take up Masters in Public Administration or Public Health or Epidemiology, especially if absorbed by our municipality, and therefore enjoy a study leave with pay; 3) apply for a job in WHO; 4) re-enter the DTTB program again but to be assigned in another municipality. Either way, one is financially stable no matter what he/she chooses.

I am excited to serve the barrio. Last Sunday, the Mayor of Candoni visited my house where I gave him the MOA. The MOA is a contract, an agreement between me and the municipality. Listed in the MOA are my responsibilities towards the municipality and their own responsibilities to me. I have to be provided a modest board and lodging and to be assigned to a plantilla position once they decided to absorb me.

I was later told by my DRCO that the MOA was already signed by the Mayor and as of yesterday afternoon was already at PHO ready to be signed by Dr. Efren, Provincial Health Officer for the province of Negros Occidental.

I will be missing my family since most of the time I will spend in Candoni, which is 4 hours away from Bacolod City, but I am happy that I am already earning money for my young family. But I am happier knowing the fact that I am not only earning for my family but I am also doing what I love: working where I feel I can make a change. It is different working in a hospital. It is important too but I feel that the interaction I have in the hospital is only limited to diagnosing and treating illnesses. In the barrio, I can get to alter things which contribute to the illnesses that I see in hospitals. I can get to influence policies that can contribute to the prevention of these illnesses.

They say, "sus, i-refer mo man na guihapon sa ospital". I answer, perhaps, especially cases which do require tertiary care. But medical care is largely made up of primary and secondary care, which can actually be provided by a Municipal health center, especially if it is equipped and well-manned. That is the challenge perhaps; to improve the health of the people where it really matters.

But really, does it matter whether one is a resident or not? whether one is a specialist or rural health physician? Each one, resident or RHP, contributes to the over-all health of the community. Each one plays a role and while it may seem that the former has more training (hospital-wise) than the latter, it is really irrelevant, especially from a communal perspective. As for me, I am happy where I am now. Life is less "toxic". Life is spacious. Life is abundant, especially with opportunities to see my family grow. No money in the world can ever buy me time, especially the time I should have had spent with family.