“For those who cannot speak for themselves,

For the rights of all who are destitute, speak up and judge fairly.”

Medical Report
Exodus for Justice and Peace Simultaneous Mercy Mission

Areas/Date

1. Sitio Taytayan, Barangay Andap, New Bataan, Compostela Valley Province/

November 10-12, 2008 (Program Proper is November 11, 2008)

2. Sitio Kahusayan, Barangay Manuel Guianga, Calinan District, Davao City,

Davao del Sur Province/November 11, 2008

Introduction

The medical group was composed of delegates coming from different local non-
government organizations. Doctors, Nurses, Pharmacists and other health allied
professionals and students were divided into two teams, one team going to Sitio
Taytayan, Barangay Andap, New Bataan, Compostela Valley Province and the
other to Sitio Kahusayan, Barangay Manuel Guianga, Calinan District, Davao
City, Davao del Sur Province.

The medical teams rendered free health services to 250 patients in Sitio
Taytayan, Barangay Andap, New Bataan, Compostela Valley Province. Majority
of the patients served were women (62.3%) than men (36.7%) where about
49.2% were children during the 8 hours medical mission.

For Sitio Kahusayan, Barangay Manuel Guianga, Calinan District, Davao City,
Davao del Sur Province, 148 patients were given medical service; majority were
women (65.8%) than men (34.1%) where 44.5% were children.

Except for some diseases, there were enough drugs/medicines given to the
patients.
 Observations

Physical and Mental Symptoms

Various complaints were heard by the doctors during the consultation. In both
areas, about 1/2 of the patients were complaining of cough and colds, headaches
and fever. For the children, most of their health complaints were also cough and
colds, fever, skin and other infections. While for the adult patients, they were
complaining of headaches, dizziness, difficulty sleeping, nervousness and
abdominal pains.

During the mission in both areas, not all children sought medical consultation
because majority of them were in the children’s play and psychosocial therapy.
And the parents were in the waiting line for the food and relief distribution.

Top 10 Health Complaints Top 10 Health Complaints

(Sitio Taytayan) (Sitio Kahusayan)
01. Cough 01. Cough
02. Cold 02. Colds
03. Fever 03. Fever
04. Headache 04. Stomach Pain
05. Body Malaise 05. Headache
06. Stomach Pain 06. Hypertension Symptoms
07. Loss of Appetite 07. Dizziness
08. Nervousness 08. Parasitism Symptoms
09. Difficulty in Sleeping 09. Nervousness
10. Toothache 10. Loose Bowel Movement

Diagnosis

During the consultation, about 1/2 of the total number of patients seen were
diagnosed to have upper respiratory tract infection (URTI). Tension headache
nervousness and insomnia were also noted in both areas especially in adult
parents with children.

One real case is Nanay “B”, 40 year old, female, and a mother to 3 kids. HERE
EXPERIENCE

(dili ko kaelaborate sa nahitabo og nadocument sa iyaha (bibing camporedondo)

basig sila sister makatabang ani?)

Cases of pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB), skin infections and other numerous

diseases were seen in both areas. Some of these diseases are highly contagious
that needs proper attention from health authorities in the municipality. They pose
danger of infection to other children and adults. Treating them now is the best
option to avoid the spread of the disease.

Top 10 Diseases (Sitio Taytayan) Percentage

01. Upper Respiratory Tract Infection (URTI) 59.2%
02. Peptic Ulcer 11.1%
03. Hypertension 9.6%
04. Skin Infection 5.5%
05. Asthma 4%
06. Urinary Tract Infection (UTI) 3.3%
07. Rheumatic Arthritis 2.9%
08. Insomnia 1.4%
09. Intestinal Parasitism 1.1%
10. Pulmonary Tuberculosis (PTB) Symptomatic, 0.7%
Goiter

Top 10 Diseases (Sitio Kahusayan) Percentage

01. Upper Respiratory Tract Infection (URTI) 63%
02. Peptic Ulcer 13%
03. Tension Headache 7.6%
04. Anemia 3.8%
05. Hypertension 3%
06. Urinary Tract Infection (UTI) 3%
07. Intestinal Parasitism 3%
08. Nervousness 1.5%
09. Amoebiasis .76%
10. Dysentery .76%

Conclusion

Most of the diseases and chief complaints suffered by the patients or internally
displaced people (IDPs) were infections and stress related problems. These
various diseases were aggravated by their poor living condition while they were
in evacuation areas and they still suffer the effects of those diseases to date long
after their return to their communities.

IDPs are prone to diseases because their immune systems are weak due to lack
of proper shelter, food and nutrition. Their mental health condition is also
disturbed due to their stressful especially of threats to their communities and
stories of human rights violations. Tension headaches, dizziness, abdominal
pains are common findings with them.
Difficulty of sleeping and other manifestations of trauma are seen among the
IDPs. This is bad for the health especially the children because these will affect
their perception of justice and peace in their community.

The case of Nanay “B” is a clear example on the effects of war to the people’s
health. With high tension and stress due to their situation, the mental health of
the IDPs is mostly affected. This will have a negative domino effect on the
behavior and decrease immune system that will lead to being prone to diseases.

So, the longer this war goes, the harder their life would be and the more they’ll
get sick. Sufferings will worst hit innocent civilians.

Cessation of military operations and resumption of peace talks is the best

prescription for their good health.