The 5th Medical Mission to Catanduanes

February 14, 2005; published in The Filipino Journal

I looked up nervously at the thin, dark 89-year-old woman as she sat down across the table from me. I was still a medical resident; I approached this mission with eagerness and trepidation. This room was a bustle of frenzied activity—crowds of Filipinos outside in the island heat, pressed up against the door to our makeshift waiting room/examining room. About 25 of the docs, nurses, and other volunteers on this mission moved around the group of patients lucky enough to be admitted in, taking brief histories, blood pressures, examining them in their chairs, then directing them to the lab, pharmacy, or consultants elsewhere in this hospital. There were 2 makeshift exam booths in the corners—where a small hospital gurney was separated from the room with a small divider. It was hot, only a couple fans helping to dissipate the heat of all the people milling about in this room that only hours earlier served as church for our daily morning mass. Periodically a volunteer would come by with refreshments—empanadas, bottled water, pan de sal, hopia, juice, assorted Filipino pastries.

Anong sakit po? I attempted in Tagalog, as I scanned her sheet of vital signs. The interpreter translated for me. “Her back hurts.” How long? 3-4 years. I continued to take a history of her complaints which were similar to many of the others’ I’d see—dizziness, weakness, cough, various pains, persistent rashes, bowel complaints sprinkled with the odd tuberculosis, ulcer. Compared to back home in Winnipeg, I saw more unusual infectious diseases and less depression and anxiety. As I examined her, I noticed how spry and hardy the elderly were here compared to the overweight frail in North America. I realized that these people’s health issues were a reflection of the difficult circumstances: chronic malnutrition, inconsistent care, piecemeal investigations and treatments. Here, I knew that if someone was sitting in front of me, it was probably a lot worse than he/she was saying—these people didn’t seek medical attention unless absolutely necessary, shared and used costly medications sparingly over years, and were generally dictated by the price/access of treatments rather than their necessity. Once I realized that these people would likely not see a physician/health care professional for a long time and the treatments/medications I could give them now were essentially all they’d have access to for who knows how long, I let my own insecurities fall to the wayside and dived into the huge work ahead of me. In the interest of seeing as many patients as possible during my short time on this mission, I had less time to spend with each patient.

This mission, the 5th Medical, Surgical, and Dental Mission of the Catanduanes International Association, lasted from January 10-14th, 2005 in the town of Virac. We saw a total of 4892 patients from all 11 towns of the province of Catanduanes. 1146 more patients were registered but not seen for lack of time and resources. Mission volunteers from Canada, the United States and the Philippines registered 1283 patients on general consultations and another 1184 pediatric cases. The balance of the 4892 indigent patients who went to the Eastern Bicol Medical Center during the five-day mission are as follows: 187 Internal Medicine cases, 19 Obstetrics-Gynecology case, 93 Gastroenterology cases, 153 Ophthalmology cases, 310 Refraction cases, 58 Physical Therapy cases, 120 Minor Surgery cases, 76 Major Surgery cases, 500 Dental cases, and 909 Laboratory/X-ray cases. The medical mission, which also brought drugs and medicines, filled a total of 3084 prescriptions and gave vitamins to 168 patients and families. Of the 76 major surgeries, including cataracts, nearly half (33) cases were of excision procedures. The 109 Canadian and American volunteers were reinforced by 68 local Filipino volunteers, including 9 doctors and other medical professionals. The Canadian Volunteers included: Aida Buendia RN, Roger Buendia, Amy Chantengco, RN, Abito Collantes, Maxima Collantes, Pablo Garcia, Jr., Eric Hill, Sharon Hill, RN, Sharon Homer, Dr. Denise Koh, Dr. Jose Cresente Madrilejos, Dr. Mary Madrilejos, Amado Mendoza, Consuelo Mendoza, Marcelino Mendoza, Dr. Raymond Padua, Dr. Rudy Padua, Evelyn Padua, Lulu Regimbal RN, Kim Reimer, Delia Saavedra, Luis Saavedra, Amy Sangalang, Felix Sangalang, Necita Tejerero, Carmelita Tolledo, Leo Tolledo, Victorina Tualla, Conrado Tualla, Marcelo Tualla, Conrado Tualla, Jr. The Winnipeg group of volunteers was,organized by Consuelo and Amado Mendoza Sr. The community showed gratitude by hosting festive parties with wonderful local delicacies in our honour. We got to taste such goodies as buko juice, tikbol, gabe gabe, lechon, tilapia, fresh mangoes, guava, pineapple, jackfruit, dinuguan, pili nuts.

I learned and felt so many things during this mission: the sadness that there were so many who couldn’t be seen, the frustration that a lot of what I prescribed/advised would only last a short while with little to no follow-up, the fear that I couldn’t and would never be able to do enough, the appreciation and guilt for what we have in North America. I was angry at the difficult circumstances Filipinos had to face. But I was also proud of my vibrant culture, the steadfastness and strength of my forebears, the kindness and generosity of Filipinos. The mission solidified my love for a country I had never really known, but whose influences were enmeshed in my daily life in Canada growing up. Not only was this mission an excellent experience for my medical education it was an important step in my journey to understanding my roots.