Looking For A Different Kind of Christmas?

wallsofhope:

Who are we?

Walls of Hope was initiated by a group of friends who have been brought together by their common attachment to the Philippine Children’s Medical Center. We were once patients, students and visitors of PCMC who have been inspired by the wall murals found around the hospital (esp. Gloria Villaraza Guzman’s Munting Patak-ulan).

What is Walls of Hope?

Most of the wall paintings in the hospital have already deteriorated or have been lost due to time. Walls of Hope is our way of giving back to the hospital that once catered to the health needs of our generation back when we were young. This is our attempt to help bring back the hope that the hospital walls has been known to give to its patients and to help sustain it to be experienced by future generations. The presence of these colorful murals is a powerful way of relieving stress and easing the hearts and minds of its visitors.

It is a 3-day event scheduled to happen on December 19-21, 2009. Volunteers are not required to be present during the whole duration of the event - even just an hour of your time already means a lot to us! The goal is to finish painting the whole first floor of the hospital in 3 days!

How can YOU help?

  1. Donate money: WOH needs to raise enough funds to cover paint costs and food expenses for volunteers. Whatever extra money that the project raises will be donated to the PCMC Cancer ward.  Monetary donations will be coursed through the PCMC bank account for Walls of Hope. You can e-mail us at pcmc.wallsofhope@gmail.com for more details on how you can contribute to making WOH happen.
  2. Donate lead-free paint: WOH also accepts lead-free paint donations. Any color will be highly valued but white would be most preferred (for base coats). Send us a message so that we can arrange a pick up point that’s convenient to you.
  3. Volunteer: Artists and non-artists are welcome!
  4. Help spread the word!:  

What are our perks?

All volunteers and donors are invited to the Walls of Hope Art Exhibit and Ribbon-cutting event to be held on December 22, 2009 at PCMC and Pre-registered volunteers will be receiving the WOH Baller ID.

But most importantly, by donating and volunteering for Walls of Hope, you get to bring back the hope that the hospital walls has been known to give to its patients and help sustain it to be experienced by generations to come!

For more information:

http://wallsofhope.tumblr.com

pcmc.wallsofhope@gmail.com

Thank you and we hope that you will join us in giving color to the lives of children this Christmas!

- WOH Team

"But ultimately, what we should hope for is that you don’t export so many of your people."
—

- Hillary Rodham Clinton, U.S. Secretary of State.

Secretary Clinton’s Remarks with Manila Radio Host, Mo Twister:

QUESTION: Now, you brought up that we are at the university. We’re at the University of Santo Tomas, which is considered probably one of the best, or if not the best, medical learning institution in our country. The thing is though, Secretary, many of our graduates in the medical field, they head to the U.S. and other first world nations to practice. Now, you’ve probably seen this in the large population of Filipino nurses in the hospitals. My question is: Do you think the United States and countries alike should be – I don’t know if the right term is obliged, but to give support to our education system, for scholarships, infrastructure, for nursing schools, since it directly benefits the American public?

SECRETARY CLINTON: Well, I think that’s a really interesting question, Mo. I would like to see Filipino doctors and nurses be able to stay here in the Philippines and contribute to the health and well-being of the people here. There are some ways that we can assist, and we have in the past with the education system with institution building, and I will look into that.

But ultimately, what we should hope for is that you don’t export so many of your people.

(http://www.state.gov/secretary/rm/2009a/11/131926.htm)

PhilHealth, being the country’s national health insurance provider, has evolved through the years since its inception in 1995. By achieving 76% coverage in 2008, it has provided the Filipino people with considerably better access to health care through its innovative benefit packages and subsidies. Be that as it may, it still has not reached the law-mandated state of universal health insurance coverage targeted at 2010. In the RP, the poor subsidizes the rich... Health insurance is anchored on the concept of social solidarity. Ideally, those who can afford to pay should contribute more to help those who can’t. This is the case in most European countries where their citizens pay a fixed amount of their income as their contribution to their national health insurance. However, the Philippines has adopted a different contribution system: PhilHealth Premium Contribution Schedule Many individually paying members (i.e. informal economy workers who do not have employers to cover half of their monthly base) are unable to sustain their contributions, putting their access to PhilHealth benefits at risk. Conversely, a salaried company executive who earns, say, P70,000.00 a month only contributes P375.00 (0.53%) from their monthly income. The latter applies to Filipinos earning P100,000.00, P1M, and so on.. because they all fit salary bracket 27. Where do the pooled funds go then? With Davao Medical Center being the only government hospital on the list, it is evident where PhilHealth’s funds are concentrated. Instead of the rich paying for the poor, the opposite happens. PhilHealth’s pooled funds are used to cover the hospital reimbursements of those who avail of services from the most expensive tertiary institutions in the country. Whenever I think of health insurance, that Filipino image of Bayanihan always enters my mind. It just makes complete sense to do your part to help take care of people who need health care the most. Otherwise, we will only be breeding a country of unhealthy people where the poor end up with substandard care and higher medical expenses. sources: http://www.flickr.com/photos/narrowvalley/326711229/; http://myjobstreet.jobstreet.com/premium/basicSalaryReport.asp?param=executive|000|ph||ph; http://www.philhealth.gov.ph/members/employed/contri_tbl.htm; http://hain-news.blogspot.com/2009/05/philhealth-update.html; Homenet Philippines (Policy Brief on health Insurance); PhilHealth Annual Report (2008).

PhilHealth, being the country’s national health insurance provider, has evolved through the years since its inception in 1995. By achieving 76% coverage in 2008, it has provided the Filipino people with considerably better access to health care through its innovative benefit packages and subsidies. Be that as it may, it still has not reached the law-mandated state of universal health insurance coverage targeted at 2010.

In the RP, the poor subsidizes the rich...

Health insurance is anchored on the concept of social solidarity. Ideally, those who can afford to pay should contribute more to help those who can’t. This is the case in most European countries where their citizens pay a fixed amount of their income as their contribution to their national health insurance. However, the Philippines has adopted a different contribution system:

PhilHealth Premium Contribution Schedule

Many individually paying members (i.e. informal economy workers who do not have employers to cover half of their monthly base) are unable to sustain their contributions, putting their access to PhilHealth benefits at risk. Conversely, a salaried company executive who earns, say, P70,000.00 a month only contributes P375.00 (0.53%) from their monthly income. The latter applies to Filipinos earning P100,000.00, P1M, and so on.. because they all fit salary bracket 27.

Where do the pooled funds go then?

With Davao Medical Center being the only government hospital on the list, it is evident where PhilHealth’s funds are concentrated. Instead of the rich paying for the poor, the opposite happens. PhilHealth’s pooled funds are used to cover the hospital reimbursements of those who avail of services from the most expensive tertiary institutions in the country.

Whenever I think of health insurance, that Filipino image of Bayanihan always enters my mind. It just makes complete sense to do your part to help take care of people who need health care the most. Otherwise, we will only be breeding a country of unhealthy people where the poor end up with substandard care and higher medical expenses.

sources: http://www.flickr.com/photos/narrowvalley/326711229/; http://myjobstreet.jobstreet.com/premium/basicSalaryReport.asp?param=executive|000|ph||ph; http://www.philhealth.gov.ph/members/employed/contri_tbl.htm; http://hain-news.blogspot.com/2009/05/philhealth-update.html; Homenet Philippines (Policy Brief on health Insurance); PhilHealth Annual Report (2008).

Recent statistics show that 62% of our country’s doctors migrate to other countries for better opportunities. There are numerous reasons for this massive unmanaged migration of health workers, one of them being that medical education is expensive with low return of investment given the economic condition of the Philippines. What is saddening is that with the 38% who have decided to stay and serve our people, 90% are found in urban areas. This means that only 10% of the doctors that we currently have serve rural areas - a sizable 52% of our population. The poor suffer more because there aren’t enough doctors to cure their illnesses. sources: HealthDev Institute and NSO Filipinos from rural areas do not have the ability to acquire basic goods and services for themselves. Tough economic conditions, weak peace and order situations, even something as simple as rough roads hinder them from having access to basic health services. The Department of Health’s decision to decentralize health care in 1992 brought about the devolution of health services from the national government to local government units. The LGUs now have the responsibility of providing healthcare to their respective communities. Imagine how hard most rural-dwellers have it if their LGUs don’t prioritize health care, add to that the fact that their budgets might not be enough to cover basic services to begin with. Not only do the poor suffer from adverse health conditions, they also face more serious consequences as a result of ill health. As my public health professor would put it: No one should die because they cannot afford health care, and no one should go broke because they get sick.

Recent statistics show that 62% of our country’s doctors migrate to other countries for better opportunities. There are numerous reasons for this massive unmanaged migration of health workers, one of them being that medical education is expensive with low return of investment given the economic condition of the Philippines.

What is saddening is that with the 38% who have decided to stay and serve our people, 90% are found in urban areas. This means that only 10% of the doctors that we currently have serve rural areas - a sizable 52% of our population. The poor suffer more because there aren’t enough doctors to cure their illnesses.

distribution of RP doctors

sources: HealthDev Institute and NSO

Filipinos from rural areas do not have the ability to acquire basic goods and services for themselves. Tough economic conditions, weak peace and order situations, even something as simple as rough roads hinder them from having access to basic health services. The Department of Health’s decision to decentralize health care in 1992 brought about the devolution of health services from the national government to local government units. The LGUs now have the responsibility of providing healthcare to their respective communities. Imagine how hard most rural-dwellers have it if their LGUs don’t prioritize health care, add to that the fact that their budgets might not be enough to cover basic services to begin with. Not only do the poor suffer from adverse health conditions, they also face more serious consequences as a result of ill health.

As my public health professor would put it: No one should die because they cannot afford health care, and no one should go broke because they get sick.

The Philippines is home to 110 IP tribes. One of them, the Aetas/Aytas, are known to be the earliest inhabitants in the country. It’s members number about 140,591 individuals. This group usually dwells in the pockets of mountains, mostly in the central part of Luzon. They are tribal in character, thus they confine themselves to a very limited world of their own.The ideal state of health is a remote concept for the Aeta community. Studies show that there are social, political and economic barriers restraining them from achieving health:1) Household income among members of this community averages approximately US $1 to $2 a day for a family of five. A day’s wage is spent almost instantaneously to sustain their most basic human needs, making them vulnerable to shocks due to their lack of financial safety nets.2) The inaccessibility of government services act as a barrier that restricts the Aetas from enjoying their fundamental right to health. This is mainly due to the distance of the facilities from the community, the lack of safe roads and adequate means of transportation.3) The culture of discrimination is another social obstacle for the tribe. They are left unattended, inappropriately treated, or were driven away altogether despite the severity of their health condition.Given these circumstances and barriers to attain a healthy Aeta community, members of their tribe have been experiencing an overall sense of helplessness over their seemingly hopeless state of deprivation. Should they forever be Hopeless and Helpless? sources and credits: a) Health Inequity and Social Injustice for the Aytas in the Philippines: Critical Psycholgy in Action (Estacio and Marks, 2007) b) http://www.ncip.gov.ph/ethno_groupdetail.php?id=82 c) http://www.flickr.com/photos/denbote/3006246167/

The Philippines is home to 110 IP tribes. One of them, the Aetas/Aytas, are known to be the earliest inhabitants in the country. It’s members number about 140,591 individuals. This group usually dwells in the pockets of mountains, mostly in the central part of Luzon. They are tribal in character, thus they confine themselves to a very limited world of their own.

The ideal state of health is a remote concept for the Aeta community. Studies show that there are social, political and economic barriers restraining them from achieving health:

1) Household income among members of this community averages approximately US $1 to $2 a day for a family of five. A day’s wage is spent almost instantaneously to sustain their most basic human needs, making them vulnerable to shocks due to their lack of financial safety nets.

2) The inaccessibility of government services act as a barrier that restricts the Aetas from enjoying their fundamental right to health. This is mainly due to the distance of the facilities from the community, the lack of safe roads and adequate means of transportation.

3) The culture of discrimination is another social obstacle for the tribe. They are left unattended, inappropriately treated, or were driven away altogether despite the severity of their health condition.

Given these circumstances and barriers to attain a healthy Aeta community, members of their tribe have been experiencing an overall sense of helplessness over their seemingly hopeless state of deprivation.

Should they forever be Hopeless and Helpless?

sources and credits: a) Health Inequity and Social Injustice for the Aytas in the Philippines: Critical Psycholgy in Action (Estacio and Marks, 2007) b) http://www.ncip.gov.ph/ethno_groupdetail.php?id=82 c) http://www.flickr.com/photos/denbote/3006246167/

"Reseta lang ang binibigay sa [health] center. Bibilhin daw sa botika, kaya lang wala naman kaming pambili kasi isang kahig isang tuka lang kami."
—

Aling Melly ( resident of Baseco, an urban-poor community)

The poor and vulnerable are not given sufficient medical coverage due to the government’s inadequate budgetary provision of 25 centavos per Filipino. According to WHO (2006), the availability of essential medicines in the Philippines is only 11% and 15% in the public and private sector respectively.

For a country that produces some of the world’s best Health Care professionals… 60% of Filipinos die without the benefit of health professional attention.

For a country that produces some of the world’s best Health Care professionals… 60% of Filipinos die without the benefit of health professional attention.

When Ana cried out from labour pains in the middle of the night, alarm spread quickly among the shanties. “Let us help you carry her,” Lily’s husband, Ben, told Mario. “But to where?” Mario asked, in panic. “We don’t have enough money yet. Not even for jeepney fare.” “Here,” Lily said, putting a small plastic bag with some bills and coins into his hand. “We all pitched in with what we could spare. That should be enough to take you both to the lying-in clinic and then back home with the baby. The men will help you carry her out to the road to get a ride.” “Thank you,” Mario replied emotionally, clutching the gift tight. “Go now,” Lily urged. The sense of urgency didn’t seem to be shared by the staff members at the public lying-in clinic. When Mario brought Ana in, they were told to wait. “Your contractions are still far apar,” the woman there told Ana. “It’s still going to take some time.” Somehow, though, the couple felt relieved that they had arrived with time to spare. The contractions did begin to come at closer and closer intervals. It was already morning, and Ana could barely speak between contractions when she was handed a sheet of paper by the same woman. “Ask your husband to buy these things now,” the woman said. Ana’s eyes widened as she looked at the list. “B-but how much will all these cost?” she asked. “Only about 750 pesos,” the woman replied. “We don’t have the money,” Ana blurted out. “You can’t give birth here without all these things,” the woman shrugged. “Tell your husband to find a way.” Ana told Mario something else entirely. “Take me home,” she said. “They won’t allow me to give birth here if we don’t have 750 pesos to buy the requirements.” They just had enough money to get a ride home. Ana was already moaning inecessantly, and Mario was almost in tears by the time they arrived back at the community. Once again, the neighbors helped the young couple get to the midwifery just outside the community. “We can all vouch for them, Ma’am,” Lily told the midwife. “They will pay, although in installments. They just don’t have the money right now.” It seemed that Mrs. Belen was used to such an arrangement. Ana was whisked into the delivery room. By the afternoon of the same day, Ana and Mario were home with their son AND a bill of 3000 Pesos from Mrs. Belen, payable in monthly installments for a year. “We will pay,” Mario promised. “Even if I have to walk to and from work to save money. What’s important is that Ana had a safe delivery and Junior is fine.” (an excerpt from Once, in an Urban Poor Community - WHO, 2008.) photo credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/sarita_pequinita/2652320939/

When Ana cried out from labour pains in the middle of the night, alarm spread quickly among the shanties.

“Let us help you carry her,” Lily’s husband, Ben, told Mario.

“But to where?” Mario asked, in panic. “We don’t have enough money yet. Not even for jeepney fare.”

“Here,” Lily said, putting a small plastic bag with some bills and coins into his hand. “We all pitched in with what we could spare. That should be enough to take you both to the lying-in clinic and then back home with the baby. The men will help you carry her out to the road to get a ride.”

“Thank you,” Mario replied emotionally, clutching the gift tight.

“Go now,” Lily urged.

The sense of urgency didn’t seem to be shared by the staff members at the public lying-in clinic. When Mario brought Ana in, they were told to wait.

“Your contractions are still far apar,” the woman there told Ana. “It’s still going to take some time.”

Somehow, though, the couple felt relieved that they had arrived with time to spare.

The contractions did begin to come at closer and closer intervals. It was already morning, and Ana could barely speak between contractions when she was handed a sheet of paper by the same woman.

“Ask your husband to buy these things now,” the woman said.

Ana’s eyes widened as she looked at the list.

“B-but how much will all these cost?” she asked.

“Only about 750 pesos,” the woman replied.

“We don’t have the money,” Ana blurted out.

“You can’t give birth here without all these things,” the woman shrugged. “Tell your husband to find a way.”

Ana told Mario something else entirely. “Take me home,” she said. “They won’t allow me to give birth here if we don’t have 750 pesos to buy the requirements.”

They just had enough money to get a ride home. Ana was already moaning inecessantly, and Mario was almost in tears by the time they arrived back at the community.

Once again, the neighbors helped the young couple get to the midwifery just outside the community.

“We can all vouch for them, Ma’am,” Lily told the midwife. “They will pay, although in installments. They just don’t have the money right now.”

It seemed that Mrs. Belen was used to such an arrangement. Ana was whisked into the delivery room. By the afternoon of the same day, Ana and Mario were home with their son AND a bill of 3000 Pesos from Mrs. Belen, payable in monthly installments for a year.

“We will pay,” Mario promised. “Even if I have to walk to and from work to save money. What’s important is that Ana had a safe delivery and Junior is fine.”

(an excerpt from Once, in an Urban Poor Community - WHO, 2008.)

photo credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/sarita_pequinita/2652320939/

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Themed by: Hunson