December 5, 2016: Symposium on Hypertension and Diabetes Mellitus Awareness

Symposium on Hypertension and Diabetes Mellitus Awareness



In order to increase awareness on Hypertension and Diabetes Mellitus among the residents of our assigned barangay, the NDP, Mr. Ryan Roy Camarillo, organized a symposium and invited us medical students to do a lecture on hypertension and diabetes.

Being one of the active NDP’s in the municipality, he spearheaded this activity and invited the MHO, Dr. Mary Rose Bugtai to do a simple talk regarding hypertension and diabetes and a free consultation particularly among hypertensive and diabetic patients.






The one day symposium is composed of a two-part program – the first one being that of lectures on hypertension and diabetes in the morning and the second being that of free consultation in the afternoon.

Hypertension and Diabetes mellitus are non-communicable diseases; they are also not curable but are diseases that can be managed adequately in order to avoid serious complications. With that opening statement of Mr. Camarillo, he introduced me in order to give a lecture on hypertension, its nature, causes, risk factors and its prevention… in Bisaya. Being not a fluent speaker of the native language, I was nervous to take on this task. But reading the lecture in advance pays a lot.

Alhamdulillah!

Even before the program started the group administered a pre-test in order to assess the knowledge the community people have on hypertension. In general their results reflected that they know what hypertension is and that there is a need to take medications in order to lower their blood pressure, but once they do not feel any symptoms at all they would be inclined to stop taking their medications and stop visiting the health center.

After the lecture on hypertension, a lecture on diabetes was given by Ms. Elimar Pingkian. According to Mr. Camarillo, hypertension and diabetes are somewhat related as having either one of the two could predispose in having the other one.

Then, the post-test were administered and their results show that they were able to grasp the content of the lecture. Alhamdulillah!

Most of the attendees were hypertensive and were already prescribed their maintenance medications, however due to their preconceived notions they stopped taking their medications once they do not feel any symptoms. Hence, Mr. Camarillo asked for the commitment of hypertensive patients in taking their medications by reading and signing a promise note. Managing hypertension is not an easy task where taking medications would solve the problem at one go, there must be a continuous effort not only by the health care provider (such as the barangay health workers) in reminding patients of the importance of taking their medications but also of the patient himself.

Next, a hypertensive club was formed that would lead hypertensive individuals towards a healthy lifestyle and remind each other regarding their maintenance medications.

In the afternoon, Dr. Bugtai did a free consultation, free maintenance medications were given, newly diagnosed hypertensive patients were enrolled in the RHU’s database and were also given their maintenance medications and BP monitoring cards. There was also free taking of Random Blood Sugar levels.

After which a zumba session was lead by the NDP, barangay kagawad for health and medical students to promote healthy lifestyle through exercise





Written by: Amina I, Solaiman

 

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We are nine (9) passionate, dedicated and goal-oriented medical students with diverse personalities who came together to achieve one goal. We are an all-scholar group with the intention to serve God and His people. For the next four years in the medical school, we have a vision to help the people in the community to become self-reliant. Through community participation and cooperation, everything can be achieved. We choose to serve the community. We choose to serve Venus. | web counter hits

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