Book Review:

Doctor to the barrios

By: Dr. Juan Flavier

Passed by:
Gomez, Genelle A.
BSN 124

Passed to:
Dr. Ritchel Briones
I. Summary / Description

The author of the book is also the main character of

the story. Almost all of the things happening in the story was in his point of
view. Dr. Juan M. Flavier, a member of the Philippine Rural Reconstruction
Movement (PRRM). These are groups who go to inaccessible barrios in the
country. They are empowering change and industrialization among farmers
and barrio people. They are increasing the knowledge of the locals about
health and proper living. The narrator describes the farmers and barrio
people, their beliefs, personalities and traditions. What he sees and
experiences. Some are very helpful, but others, they need to change their
beliefs in order to be better people. Especially on misconceptions on health,
that is the main target to be changed. The second thing that was described
was the life on the barrios, he said that it was not easy. It’s hard to get along
to people especially with those early negative reactions based on past
experiences on rural health workers. He had also given tips on how to
overcome simple problems on the barrio. He learned some of the metaphors
of the barrio people. Others may seem simple, but some are deeper than it
sounds, so it’s not easy to analyze them when you’re a new comer. You’ll
need a lot of time in order to understand very well the people in a barrio. He
described the passion of the health workers for their job. Because as college
graduates, it is hard to give yourself in a rural setting with very little salary. So
those people working for the community has a heart and passion for what
they are doing. They really love to help and they are doing it from their hearts.

II. Analysis & common Problems

As most of the problems in a community setting,

most of it are knowledge deficit, specially on health. It is hard to implement
other health regimens because barrio people have their own beliefs since
their ancestors passed it down from generations to generation. It is hard to
break that belief and workers take them as a challenge to their work. Making
a community people believe on the right health pattern is an accomplishment.
Other problems in the community is financial problem, being in a rural setting,
it is quite common to have financial problems, especially when most of the
barrios chosen for their services are remote provinces. Other problems are
those rebels in the mountains of the provinces which causes violence and
fear among the people.

III. Strategies and Approaches

The strategy that was used is Rational, because it

involves imparting with the hope that this will enable the other party to make a
choice in the right direction. This means that they are not persuading the
community people to believe them or something. They are just hoping that
they will get something educational from the missionaries, because it is really
difficult to change an ancient belief of the community people to modern
health, so there is no need for persuasion or rewards because it is for their
own benefit if they believe or not.

IV. Models & community organization practice

The model for this is “Model A, Locality or

community Development”. Because they are aiming to build a better
community in terms of health, leadership and participation of the people of the
barrios. They need the whole community to participate in order to improve the
community. All of them are needed in order to progress so nobody will be left
out and to raise each other to improvement of their community. By the help of
the PRRM workers, they are the ones who led these people to where they
should be, because they are more knowledgeable, they have the task and
passion to share it with the people to be better and industrialized.