Innovations and Multi-Sectoral Partnerships to Achieve Control of Tuberculosis (IMPACT)

Days passed but I didn’t noticed that my training is about to end. On March 10 my OJT period will end fortunately. It simply means that I will step up to the next level. It is glad to know that I survived. As of now I am preparing myself for a training that will be held at the Bayleaf Hotel in Intramuros, Manila on 11^th until 13^th of March. Reports and other documents are submitted before we travel.

Innovations and Multi-Sectoral Partnerships to Achieve Control of Tuberculosis (IMPACT) is a project that will be delivered by the Institute of Primary Health Care of Davao Medical School Foundation, Inc. This project was funded by the USAID to address the pragmatic decline in the number of reached by TB education, presumptive TB cases identified and referred to health centers, presumptive TB cases referred and submitted for sputum exam, presumptive TB cases who have completed the 2 sputum examination, presumptive TB cases identified as New Sputum Positive (NSP) TB, TB All Forms diagnosed, NSP cases who have started treatment with community volunteers as treatment partners, NST cased cured and cases of TB All Forms diagnosed and undergoing treatment. The ultimate output of this project is to Increasethe Case Detection Rate (CDR) and Cure Rate (CR) of the Local Government Units attributable to increased (minimum of 10%) referrals from the Community-Based Organizations.

Through the coordination of the Community-based Organizations (CBO’s) to the Rural Health Units (RHU’s) the project hoped to continue for another 3 years based on the one year term evaluation of the funding agency reported by the Community Service Unit (CSU) of the DMSFI. However, Community organizers like me is now preparing for the said training. I’ve done research on Tuberculosis in the Philippines. As of now the Department of Health through its National Tuberculosis Program find ways on how these existing TB DOTS facilities are accessed by the presumptive cases. With the close coordination of the Local Government Units it is believed to be realized.

Through Philippine Business for Social Progress (BPSP) as the contractor the project will be initiated o the provinces that have been detected with the high cases of TB. The contractor (BPSP) coordinated the NGO's or the Technical Assistance Providers (TAP's) to deliver the project. These TAP's are considered to be the sub-contractors responsible for the delivery of the said project. The DMSF-IPHC is one of the Technical Assistance Provider that will cover 6 Municipalities in Davao Oriental with 4 barangay per assignment.

Since this project (IMPACT) is new, a training will be conducted to capacitate the community organizers and project heads for proper delivery of the project to target municipalities of Davao Oriental. I am very grateful to be part of the said project because aside from opportunities of traveling places and communities, it will also open my horizon in meeting new people and new experiences.

Social Work

There were various activities that I have attended. These include meetings, field exposures and meeting different people. Participatory Rapid Assessment/Appraisal, PORAS, Tribal Assembly and MITA meeting are major activities that I’ve been during my training. 

Activity: Participatory Rapid Assessment/Appraisal (PRA) Workshop

Date: February 16-27, 2015

Venue: Brgy. Banglasan and Brgy. Camansi, Montevista, Comval Province

PRA Workshop with the Brgy. Council, and
Health Practitioners of Camansi, Montevista, Comval

We conducted PRA Workshop in two barangays for two consecutive days. The activity was organized for health assessments. The activity was attended by the council and health practitioners (BNS, BHW’s, CHT, Midwife) in the barangay. The activity was delivered by the team that have opened the minds of the participants of all the concerns and issues in health. The two day activity was successfully conducted and delivered in two barangays.

There were problems that I encountered during the PRA workshop. Since it was my first time to speak in front of people I got scared – Stage fright in other words. Though it is normal to get nervous whenever we speak in front of people  I said to myself that I will get used to it.
Problems in the road and other factors are things
 that I encountered during the two days of workshop.

There are things that I learned during my training and that opened my horizon into a new perspective. A two day activity has introduced me into challenges (roads, mode of transportation and the culture) in reaching communities. The activity also enhanced my communication skills and interpersonal skills because I have met people and shared ideas. Therefore, this activity have opened my mind into what really the kind of work that I am into.

Activity: Peoples Organization Rating Assessment, Tribal Assembly and MITA Meeting

Date: February 18-20, 2014

Venue: ABC Hall and Brgy. Gymnasium, Brgy. San Jose, Montevista, Comval Province

My experience was heating up as the day passed by. The planned activities were presented to us and a new experience has to come. The Peoples Organization Rating Assessment (PORAS) was conducted by the team. The activity was organized to assess the present status of the organization for future developments. The activity was attended by the IP leaders of the Municipality (Cheiftain, IPMR). PORAS tool was presented by the team. The participants answered questions and raised concerns. During the discussion there were long due issues were discussed that consumed much time. It was a whole day activity. Present during the activity was the Project Manager of the IP-MNCHN (Mila Chavez) who helped the team in emphasizing the main purpose of the PORAS. This gave some IP leaders the opportunity to invite us to observe in their Tribal Assembly specifically in Brgy. San Jose.

The next day before the Tribal Assembly we accompanied one of the CO's to follow up the attendance of the conducted PRA in Brgy. Lebanon. We went to the place with a 3 kilometre ride from poblacion area. This activity served as the exposure for the OJT. Upon reaching the place the council was conducting the regular session. We observed for a short time while we were waiting for the attendance. Right after the completion of the documents, we then went back to poblacion area to prepare for the Tribal Assembly.

The weather was not good that afternoon. Together with the team leader we observed the assembly as they plan for the upcoming barangay fiesta celebration. The meeting discussed matters on the membership, tribal marriage and upcoming participation of the IP in the barangay activities. We were task to observe the deliberation of the meeting to determine the gaps and other facilitating factors. The activity was successfully conducted though there were things that are not cleared.

On the next day we were task to observe the Monthly meeting of the Montevista Integrated Tribal Association (MITA) for us to determine what are ways on how they conduct meetings. The prime purpose of the said observation was to assess them. The participants were there and normally some members came late. The meeting started with the preliminaries and then followed by the normal way of conducting a meeting. The whole duration was quite bad because the entire member cannot really do the right way. The procedure applied in the meeting was informal. Moreover, the presider wasn’t so effective in organizing the flow of discussion. The rules (if there’s any) was suspended because of the invited visitors from PAMULAHAN and 25^th IB Batalion (Lt. Col. Michele Anayron, Jr.) that gave their insights about agriculture and war concerns, respectively.

Those three activities were three major activities that have helped me in understanding the real context of the IP-MNCH project. However there were problems that have made positive effect to me. Both PORAS and MITA are activities that need to have skill of synthesizing the idea. The difficulty in extracting the ideas in arguments and discussions was really there. Understanding well and setting yourself in focus became hindering factors.

I have learned that these groups of people really need assessment and assistance. Understanding them was one of the most powerful tools in dealing IP’s because they are not oriented with the trends in organization. I also realized that the project (IP-MNCHN) is essential in enhancing the and empowering the IP Communities to gain access to health and other benefits that government is providing. Those activities enlightened my mind.

Reflection

 For almost a week in the field for the first time, there were things that I cherished most and those were the experience of being with the people in the community and being with the team mates. I appreciate how these people shared not only the learning of the project but the learning of how life works as well. My knowledge about health was enhanced and especially in dealing with the Indigenous community.

I learned the importance of the CO’s in delivering the services (technical) because these people are the front liner of the institute. I am really looking forward to seeing myself one day as an effective and efficient staff of the institution as an epitome of what really social work is. A week of experience taught me to value commitment and responsibility, on how focus on my goals and on how to manage my time wisely. 

Annual Institutional Review

Debates, arguments and notions were presented as participants in the Annual Institutional Review of the DMSF-IPHC gathered together on  three day activity started on March 26, 2015. This will give every units of the institution an opportunity to present the accomplishments for the whole fiscal year . With 46 people in attendance, the activity started at exactly 8:45 am at 3rd Floor,AVR, MTRC Building 1.

Reports from CSU, MTRC, Admin, PDE, Finance, SEED, ED/MC and PDE were presented. Discussion on project development and efforts to delivering 2 major domains was emphasized. The topic in Finance unit was thoroughly discussed though. However, different topics were discussed accordingly. Every topic are sensitive. Indicators and other concerns were also discussed. Participants from every unit have raised concerns. Objectively, the purpose of the activity was successfully delivered. Issues were brought out that resulted to the development and progress of the institution.

A number of ice breaker was conducted by the Relational Committee responsible for the activity's  technical aspect. Participants enjoyed not only the dances but the discussions as well. The activity commenced exactly 12:00pm, February 28, 2015. The activity was made possible with the collaborated efforts of  every units. The activity commenced after a sumptuous lunch shared by everyone.

Technical Support to Developing Rural Communities

We had a smooth ride on our way to Barangay Camansi, Montevista, Comval, the last barangay to receive the assessment. Upon reaching the place, participants were already there waiting together with the barangay captain who welcomed us. It was a sunny day and people on that place were all busy. After a short welcome, we were ushered by some participants to the activity area.  We started posting the visuals and that signaled them that the training was about to start.

The preliminaries, introduction of participants and giving of expectations were normally conducted. A short message from the barangay captain welcomed the participants. The activity was participated by the barangay council, barangay health workers, BNS (Barangay Nutrition Scholars) and IP representatives. A brief background of the Project and PRA tools were discussed respectively. Amazingly, participants expressed their ideas, arguments and have also raised concerns. The data presented were validated.

I appreciate how they gave ideas to address the occurrence of the problems in their barangay, especially on health matters. However, participants also find time to give jokes and a spree to laugh but at the same time learning out of it. The explanation of the speakers gave clarity to vague and obscure topics. Participants’ insights were good and provocative. I saw how they are affected with the assessment.

First Activity: Participatory Rapid Assessment/Appraisal

Activity:Participatory Rapid Assessment/Appraisal

Date: Feb. 16, 2015

Venue: Brgy. Hall, Banglasan, Montevista, ComVal Province

                Before the activity I saw the CO’s prepared. After we filled our empty stomach we went to the terminal. The idea of riding a “skylab” was one thing that filled the excitement. It was my first time. We left the Poblacion area around 8:00 am. The weather wasn’t good though. Light rain was pouring. We came down the road and the rain inked the streets. Mountains were covered by white smoke. At first it was a smooth ride until it turned out bad.

                Before we reached the place I saw how people lived their lives. Simple. I saw how they cultivated their crops, how they raised their animals. We crossed a river, schools and other existing projects of the NGO's. I learned that it is not easy to reach a certain place just to give them education and technical support. It takes passion.

                Together with the midwife who happened to conduct the immunization that day, we were welcomed by the barangay captain. We started the assessment immediately. I was task to facilitate the introduction of participants. The activity was attended by the Barangay Captain, BHW’s, a Midwife, BNS, Tribal Chieftain, pastor and representatives from Senior Citizen and the barangay Secretary. I really appreciate the warm welcome of the participants. After that, the background of the project and PRA tools were presented.

                Participants were actively participating. Issues and other medical concerns were raised. The interaction was good. They were assessed in a collective and participatory manner. Some topics were deeply discussed and argued. I saw the problem of the barangay and I was moved by the fact that the activity affects them as to how they view on health.

                The PRA in Banglasan was the first exposure for me. It introduced me into a perspectivewhere I can feel belongingness. The roadtrips, budgeting, ambiance, my team mates, the interactions of the participants and the warm welcome of the people are things that lived my expectations.

It's Time for Giving Humanitarian Services

This is travel blog will open you to an adventure and exhilarating experience as I reach out to rural communities in Southern and Western Mindanao. I will experience community immersion and to deal with the rural communities by gathering data in the field of health.

This blog will also uncover places that you have never seen before. The unadulterated areas of Mindanao will be featured here through pictures and videos. My day-to-day activities will be posted here as I go through this journey. The exciting mode of transportation from horses, motorcycles, "skylab" and among others.

Join me as I uncover  places in Mindanao through humanitarian and community development services funded by the European Union and other big NGO's from all over the world.