Paper
Monday, November 5, 2007
370
Primary Healthcare for a Rural Baranggay in the Philippines
Mariquit C. Hadwiger, MS(N), RN and Stephen C. Hadwiger, RN, PhD, MS(N). Nursing Program, Truman State University, Kirksville, MO, USA
| Learning Objective #1: Describe local health resources for a rural baranggay in a developing country. |
| Learning Objective #2: Describe the process for accessing health care available to residents of the rural baranggay. |
This is a descriptive exposé of health resources and services available to residents of a rural baranggay (barrio) in the
Philippines. As nursing sets a vision for global health care through collaboration, preliminary planning must incorporate assessment of current health care systems. This presentation is a systems assessment of one baranggay in the Visayas
island of Panay. The authors visited with families, health care providers, community leaders, and other stakeholders about resources and services utilized by members of the baranggay. Access to health care in the baranggay usually begins with a visit to the baranggay health center staffed by a lay health care worker or a nurse/midwife. Referrals can be made to a government run health clinic where a decision will be made by a doctor or a nurse whether to refer the patient further to the hospital. In the baranggay, health education classes are offered to families at the health center to focus on nutrition and wellness care. Immunizations are available to residents through the government run health clinic. This government sponsored health care is provided free to the residents of the baranggay, but residents are responsible for the cost of medications and other health supplies.