365 Days in the Mountains

It has been a year since I was deployed as a doctor to the barrio in the mountains of Candoni in Negros Island. One more year and my contract as a doctor to the barrio shall end. I remember the time when I made my choice and how some of my friends were critical about my entering the doctor to the barrio. They fear that if I enter into public health, I might remain stagnant, devoid of any professional growth. Although the fear is valid and perhaps true in some cases, I felt that the choice I made was due to this pulling effect of many life's experiences prior to my becoming a medical student. However, the fear of stagnation can be viewed as a misinterpretation. For one to consider stagnation in knowledge, one must consider first which knowledge is he talking about. For knowledge is varied. All knowledge, regardless of how one acquires it, or which one is acquired, are the same. Perhaps, for those who fear stagnation in public health, they refer to the knowledge which a clinician in a hospital setting can acquire and utilize. And that is an essential knowledge. It is important. But equally important is the knowledge a rural health physician acquires from his public health experience, the knowledge in a community setting, where the job focuses not just exclusively to the sick, but moreso to the "healthy" population. Medical schools are training medical students to become doctors, to cater only to about 5 to 10% of the population. These are the sick patients. Who should take care of the 90%?



If there is one thing that I am grateful about my experience as a DTTB, it is the opportunity to broaden my perspective in the management of my patients. Now, I am more considerate about the non-biological factors which contribute to the disease, the inorganic component of illness. In my therapeutic management, I consider these factors, with the objective of establishing good compliance and uninterrupted follow ups with these patients. Prevention becomes the major goal. But of course, no private physician would want to "prevent" disease. Or else, where will they get their income from?

Rural or Urban, doctors of all kinds are gems of society, gems which unfortunately are becoming rare these days. It is my personal prayer that many in our community will still be inspired to become doctors. Perhaps the motivation may be drawn from the urge to uplift the economic situation of the family, providing stability for the family. Perhaps the motivation may be drawn from the urge to uplift the lives of other families, especially those who are disadvantaged right from the start. Whatever the motivations are, it is my personal hope that many doctors shall re-emerge, true unsung heroes to serve their respective communities.