On Being Isolated

I have been a doctor for two decades now, always ready to aid people who are in need, to heal them in the most impossible way that a man can, to cure others who asked of me over and over in the most isolated provinces in this wounded nation. But all of these can disappear from an instant blink of an eye. The whole nation is desperately in need of healing, to be quite frankly. It is hard to think of a proclamation of Jesus that is harder to understand – or believe – than â€Å"blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven' because truthfully, from whereI am standing, I don't quite see it at all. Vive seen death in everywhere I go, pre-school children died from being exploded by a bomb of the ABA Safe conflict in Sambaing, a sick mother who died after giving birth to a twin because his husband who happens to be a conductor in a bus company can't afford a proper three-day meal for the family despite his almost 24- hours shift. And Just like last week, Vive seen a woman who was stabbed by her own sister-in-law out of Jealousy.I bring this up in the context of considering that poverty is everywhere, that no matter how much we think about the did an Dana' it won't bring the Filipino people in good condition. I believe, as a Doctor, health is one of the most important elements in society. It takes a great deal of effort to come up with plans and proposal to keep the nation in balance with health. The President Just stated his State of the Nation a few days back, and it is sad that promoting good health and proposing for cheaper medicines and health benefits doesn't seem like its included in his flagships.True, that the administration is still on its process of rehabilitating what was lost in Samara-Letter regions, but in ejaculating all of the medical assistance is by far most unknown in his propaganda. Thankfully enough, we are living by the hands of the foreigners. All of the countless relief's we received are from all over the wo rld. It is also quite considerate when Peons cabinet members and Local Government Officials are working hard for the safety of everyone, but why it seems that everyone is still coping up with the devastation.It has almost been a year since it happened, but why are these dreams seems to be washed out by the typhoon? You see, I am Just a Doctor, who can't even help himself, because I am being dragged y the system and by the looks of it the government can't even help its people. I wish all those people who made decisions could come down to see what the consequences of their decisions would be like. But really, who are those' people in the first place? Tobacco executives who market a carcinogenic product? Conglomerate food industries that contribute to obesity (and poor dental health)?Insurance companies that leveraged debt in credit default swabs and contributed to global inflation? Even if I help myself in building a hospital, do you think the government would support me on that? How would I even know that all of hose pain and effort in helping people would really pay off? No matter how much I think about going abroad and dedicate myself in contributing to the nation's rising economy (even though it doesn't seem quite felt), it would reflect on me, and the media will use its persuasive power to kill people like us (doctors, nurses, therapists) like we are the most gruesome professionals in the world.The clinic that I usually attend to in Panamanian, every time Vive visited it, is about as anti-Aquinas as it gets, so it is hard for me to reconcile the claims that insurance (since when does every Filipino has insurance and I wish everyone can) and co-pays should be under IPPP with the insistence that whatever our misfortunes might be, they are the product of unfair treatment at the hands of power and privileged. In the President's speech he talked about preparing for future disasters and even focuses on how his administration carry over responsibilities in all of those who are affected.I was one of the Doctors that immediately went to see how wrecked the place was, but a one single official was never really there to go and look in many far- lung areas. Relief's were distributed almost three days after that typhoon. There used to be several health centers in Tactical (where I was assigned) but last January, it stretched to the limit. People cannot even walk to the main health center in Tactical. There are trees everywhere and they have essentially been cut off.We set up in the destroyed former health clinic and received a lot of patients. It was non-stop and people were happy that my team arrived. And in everyday was the same, we went to another remote village and the patients did not stop coming. It is clear that there is a massive need. As a freelance Doctor, I cannot save the whole country, but many people are currently surviving without medical care and we will try to fill that gap until services are restored. Till when can I accept this tragic fact?Back in Tactical, we are mainly treating respiratory infections, and we've also seen some patients with diarrhea. Without proper shelter and being exposed to the elements, a lot of people have colds and fevers, especially the kids. Vive also encountered people who have been affected mentally by the typhoon. They are resent with physical symptoms that you can't really pinpoint, but often we see that this indicates psychological distress. It's common to see this after such a traumatic event, so psychological care is in need to.As I continue my distress over the things I saw back last November when the Typhoon was out in the Philippine Area of Responsibility, I was drawn to more facts about this illness of my country in providing deserved health benefits. Equipment and facilities are still not up to the standard of private institutions. Government hospitals remain largely ill equipped and have offered years due to the decline of government spending on health care. Accessibi lity to public healthcare still remains a contentious issue, particularly in more rural areas.Ideally, everyone is entitled to health care through Philately, but the problem still is, some are discouraged to pay for this because they still choose ‘Panamanian Eng than' over health care and not all medical procedures are covered by the Philately scheme and often the balance for medical expenses is to be paid by the patients. The other day, Budget Secretary Butch Bad presented the 201 5 proposed budget of PA. 06 trillion ($60 billion), 15% higher than the previous year. For health, the government wants a APP. Billion budget for the upgrade of 1,242 bargain (village) health stations, 587 rural health stations, 128 local government unit hospitals, and 1 1 treatment and rehabilitation centers. The government also seeks a PA. 3 billion budget to minimize 2. 2 million children and to provide pneumatically vaccines to 1. 4 million senior citizens and 429,000 infants. Big money is allot ted in Health. If only the President would consider this, a plan where he can control the distribution of budget appropriately for everyone.Although, he dispensed an allotted amount in covering future calamity funds and increase in providing the National Health Insurance Program from APP. 3 billion ($810 million) to APP. 2 billion ($850 million); increase in coverage from 14. 7 million to 15. 4 million beneficiaries, it would be quite enough to sustain what the nation needs, but the big question here is that if the administration can provide this fairly and legitimately. As a Doctor, I am not enraged by how the administration works. I am furious on how they manage everything.I am not against to those who are now in the position, I believe they are placed there for a reason, a reason that neither of us would know. But to be quite honest, my heart goes to the people who deserved a better life. A life of happiness, stability, and even the most taken for granted acts. I am not taking si des in considering that the Philippines is not a choice anymore; I won't want to believe that. It is probably one of the reasons why I still keep myself flowing as much as possible, helping those poor; I believe that social protection and social services should be given a much more credit, a bigger perspective to end this misery.But for now, I'll keep my hopes up. I will definitely wait for the right time. But I won't lose my hope in this administration and in this passion in serving others. I challenge the President in helping and promoting us, especially those who are in the medical world, in healing our nation's wounds. It might be hard, it is not easy, but there's no need to worry, it will be all well and right, if we all keep ourselves closely knit, together, hand in hand.