All ears are set. All eyes are open. The community gathered to listen and be involved. In the brown, sun-scorched plains of Maasin (with a population of 722, as per latest Census), a village in Pura, Tarlac, a man could be seen writing on a whiteboard next to a computer screen showing animated videos on a health topic. Cliff Paragas, a community health nurse, conducts a training session for Barangay Health Workers (BHWs) and Health Cluster Leaders (collectively referred to as Community Volunteer Health Workers or CHWs). The training is part of a series of activities aimed at building the capacities of CHWs for health education, health promotion, and encouraging an empowered and self-reliant community through the Alay sa Ginhawa at Kalusugan (ALAGA KA) program of Health Futures Foundation, Inc. (HFI).
Cliff has been a Community Health Nurse (CHN) of HFI for almost 18 months now. He provides basic healthcare services to the community members, educates CHWs on therapeutic communication, health, leadership and values, and facilitates community mobilization activities through the Community-Based Health and Wellness Program (CBHWP) of ALAGA KA. Before working with HFI, Cliff was a public health nurse under the Department of Health’s (DOH) Nurse Deployment Program (NDP). Thus, community health work is something he is already familiar with.
Together with the BHWs, Cliff routinely conducts house-to-house visits, especially for patients who cannot visit the health station. He serves with the BHWs almost every day and conducts cluster group meetings every month, effectively fostering camaraderie with the CHWs. Together, they work to provide basic health services and mobilize resources to address Maasin’s health problems.
The path towards promoting health-seeking behaviors and motivating the community members to work together towards better health was a difficult one, but Cliff learned to navigate. As hypertension is the main non-communicable disease (NCD) in Maasin, it was painful to note that affected residents did not have a sense of urgency to avail of their needed health care services. For example, although there are residents who know they have high blood pressure, they don’t go to the health station voluntarily. The lack of health information and education on common diseases over the years, and the difficulty in accessing basic health services and life-saving commodities have led to complacency resulting in catastrophic health episodes. “It was a challenge for me to educate community members not to ignore their health conditions.” (Iyon yung naging challenge ko para sa akin, na ipabatid sa kanila na kailangan huwag nila balewalain ang kalagayan nila.)
Resolute, Cliff proceeded to work with volunteers in addressing the challenges. Having previously trained BHWs and Cluster Leaders on various modules (e.g, Community-Based Approach and Health Literacy, Healthy Lifestyle, Taking Vital Signs, Herbal Medicine and Filipino Traditional Medicine, Acupressure), he encouraged them to share to the rest of the community what they have learned. He finds fulfillment in knowing that the knowledge on how to address the immediate needs of the residents, in managing their health conditions, and promoting health-seeking behaviors is finally gaining ground. With NCDs among the main health problems, he regularly assists community members by educating them about lifestyle changes and exercise, and seeking early clinical advice. “That is where being a health advocate comes in. I taught them how to adjust their diet.” (Diyan na po papasok iyong pagiging isang health advocate kumbaga. Tinuruan ko siya kung paano mag-adjust ng kinakain…)
A teacher and an advocate, Cliff also realized the cutting-edge value of digital technology in health. He is now training BHWs on the use of the computer and the internet to provide access to primary healthcare services. To his credit, there are now BHWs in Maasin who are familiar with the basic use of digital tools in recording health data, developing visual aids, and assisting teleconsultations with a volunteer medical doctor.
Aside from the capacity-building activities and provision of primary health care services, Cliff, together with the community members of Maasin, regularly collaborates with the Barangay Local Government Unit (BLGU) of Maasin in the planning and execution of health programs and activities. Some of the notable community mobilization activities initiated by the Maasin residents are the Community Vegetable and Herbal Garden, Healthy Cooking Contest, and Zumba Group Dance.
As a CHN, Cliff does what is asked of him and much more. When asked how he maintains his excellent performance, his simple answer was “Maybe because I like what I do, I like what I do in the community. Although I am not seeing the results right away, the people make me feel that they appreciate what I do.” (Siguro dahil gusto ko ang ginagawa ko, gusto ko iyong nagagawa ko sa komunidad. Hindi man agad-agad pero nakikita ko iyong resulta ng ginagawa ko. Napaparamdam naman ng tao iyong pagpahalaga nila sa ginagawa ko.) As his engagement in Maasin comes to an end, Cliff hopes there are more nurses encouraged to be CHNs. “If they become a CHN, they must love their job, love the community they are serving” (Kung sila man ay maging Community Health Nurse, mahalin nila ang trabaho, mahalin nila ang komunidad na pinagsisilbihan.)
__
Written by: Lizette Abibuag
Edited by: Pedrito dela Cruz and Nina Coronel
Read other CHN stories here.
