The Medicine of Modern Life

 

I have been adopted and have adapted the way of life of the Haduan Negrito.  They have been integral part of WHO I am now and why I have been advocating for education exclusively for the area of Mount Haduan. Education is not just about teaching how to read and write, but teaching them the ways of the city dwellers, their actions that will affect the indigenous people’s rights and their whole being.  The years have not been easy to their culture and their land. Changes are bound to happen but their land is slowly being degraded, their person discriminated and sadly the new generation is adapting too fast of how the Clark City is transforming.

Common Diseases abound in the community area when they are visited by the commercial tourist. Strains of simple flu get to have an impact on little children. It maybe 2019 but the isolation of the community to certain strain of diseases affect them once they were in contact with tourist.

This is the reason why I am also advocating that tourist should not travel to the community when they are experiencing common cold. It does transmit. Tribal elders would say that runny nose and fever before is non-existent in the area, it just started after Mount Pinatubo erupted. They are assuming and I am presuming that these diseases were brought about by the contact they had with lowlanders because they are needed to be evacuated and take shelter in the municipal basketball courts.

There is still the absence of a healthcare system in the mountain. The nearest hospital is about 5 hours walk from the mountain exit to the nearest main road. Health workers are almost non-existent as well. Department of Social Welfare and Development would come twice a year. To help combat common diseases, my team of young Aeta’s would let me know what we need from our makeshift health center and it would be my job to ask for medicine from common cold, cough syrup, paracetamol, and most importantly vitamins for ages 0months to 6 years old. We make do with what we are given.

I have always been asked when I seek donation for medicine, school supplies and agricultural products for livelihood of the indigenous people, why do I have to beg  when there are government agencies who are supposed to provide them. And I would say, if it has been provided for, would I be seeking help? For me being HUMANIST is not about what the government agencies can do for you, it is about what you can contribute and do to HUMANITY.

Volunteer work is not about how good you will look on the picture, or how grandiose you would seem to be, it is the ACTION that you take to better the lives of others.