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  • Writer's pictureMarites Madrigal

Second Exposure Activities

After the end of the second semester, the medical students of ADZU-SOM once again undertake the task of returning to the community to continue their Barangay exposure.


After the initial exposure last semester during which all groups were rotated to their respective barangays to gather secondary data, and after initially presenting these data to the panelists, the second exposure is now centered on the collection of primary data through a house-to-house survey to create a community health database which will be used to identify pressing issues of the community that has an impact on health.



Meeting at the Rural Health Unit

Upon arrival at the Municipality of Ipil, Zamboanga Sibugay, the students, before proceeding to their assigned Barangays, assembled in the RHU building for a briefing and reorientation for the activities in the second exposure. They were welcomed by the RHU staff and Dr. Yrl Agbayani.





Household Survey


The students traveled through Puroks, Orchids, African Daisy, and Lily either hiking or with the aid of a motorcycle, where they traversed through large areas covered with trees and undergrowth to reach the entire Suclema composed of more than three hundred (300) households. This is in line with the conduct of household surveys to identify the common perceived health-related issues that have an impact on people's quality of life using a survey tool developed by the students themselves.


Interviews were also conducted regarding the health-value-belief system of the people.


Upon completion of the surveys conducted, the group collated all the responses, encoded the data, and made it into a database. They also created graphs and charts for easier understanding and to make it simpler for presentation.



Barangay Council meeting


After collecting the perceived identified health-related issues of the Barangay through the conduct of surveys and our daily interfacing, and after collating, and summarizing data, the group now made a presentation and conferred their findings to the Barangay council. In this meeting, council heard the concerns raised by the medical students and the identified health-related issues were rationalized and prioritized accordingly.



Community Preceptor meeting


That day during the scheduled council meeting, the medical students also had an audience with their community preceptors-- Dr. Yrl Agbayani and Dr. Micheal Filoteo. They discussed concerns and issues regarding the community and their identified health-related issues. Criteria for Individual Health plan and for choosing a Family for their Family Health Plan were also clarified. The living quarters and surroundings of the medical students were also inspected.


Seeing the Community as our patients

An essential part of becoming a doctor at the Ateneo de Zamboanga University School of Medicine, not only that students are able to attend classes in the PBL (Problem-Based Learning) format, but they are also immersed in the area of public health through its integration into the curriculum, in the end, garnering an MD and a Master's Degree in Public Health at the end of five years.


In the community, they are assigned to a barangay to be able to make an impact on Public Health through primary prevention and community organization. Initially, they take in one patient and a family and assist in the management of their health through the planning, and implementation of their respective individualized health plans.


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