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1998 marks the 25th year of Community-Based Health Programs in the Philippines! On behalf of the Board of Trustees of the Council for Health and Development, let me convey our warmest greetings to all of us who are gathered here today -- to our dedicated community health workers, to our committed CBHP staff and volunteers, to our local and international friends and supporters, co-health workers and guests. We also extend greetings on this momentous occasion to the hundreds of CBHP staff, to the thousands of members of health committees, community health leaders and community health workers who are in the communities continuing our health work with the basic sectors. But most especially, bigyan natin ng ¬SANG BAGSAK ang ating mga partner peopleÿs organizations who are leading in the struggle, development and defense of our health programs.

It is most fitting that we celebrate the 25 years of CBHPs in our homegrown tradition of ¬action-reflection-actionÿ with no less than the frontliners in our health work. We pause today from our vigorous community work to analyze our current socio-political situation and reflect on what we have done together with the people. Let us arm ourselves with the lessons culled from our 25 years of experience as we move onward.

The 25 years of existence of community-based health programs show how we evolved from a simple mobile paramedic training team to a nationwide formation that is laying down the foundation for an alternative health care system that is nurtured, developed and defined by the people in the communities because it is their own health program. The 25 years of CBHPs is thus a celebration of the peopleÿs efforts and achievements in their movement for social change. Through the years, CBHPs have survived terrorism and repression, deception and cooptation -- from the evil and tyranny of the Marcos martial law regime, even through the Aquino governmentÿs ¬total warÿ and to the Ramos administrationÿs anti-people economic program. Our continued existence through such difficult years could not be possible had we not walked the path of being part of the peopleÿs struggle for social change.

CBHPs continue to exist because they are rooted in a very strong and solid foundation -- the COMMUNITY PEOPLE who struggle unceasingly to develop and defend their health programs.

WHAT DO WE SEE NOW WITH THE CBHPs?

Wherever they exist, CBHPs are making significant contributions to genuine peopleÿs development, not only through health education and services but more so through awakening and mobilizing the people to deal with the root causes of poverty-related sickness -- taking their present and future into their hands. If you encounter communities with high levels of unity and cooperation among community members and a sense of security concerning basic health needs, you can almost be sure to find that the area has a peopleÿs organization and a community-based health program, ably managed by the community members themselves. Such communities stand out because they have three characteristics in common:

1. There are dedicated volunteer community health workers who know how to prevent and manage common diseases, are capable of meeting health emergencies and are greatly trusted by their neighbors. Many of us can attest to the dramatic change in the personality, attitude and capacity of our supposedly once timid, superstitious, subservient and passive, and so-called ordinaryÿ folks.

2. The community members understand why they get sick and they know not only the medical reasons but also the inter-relationship of socio-economic political problems in the community and country as a whole. Before CBHPs existed, people in the barrios readily accepted rampant disease and premature deaths as the will of God. ¬Kalooban ng Diyos yan eh (Itÿs Godÿs will).ÿ Children were assumed to be naturally defenseless and were expected to die early. Now, we can see Mang Kardo linking his tuberculosis with his landlordÿs refusal to accept agrarian reform.

3. The people have organized themselves to solve problems that affect their health and life. Before such programs existed, people in the barrios would just accept things as they were, no matter how dehumanizing and oppressive, and resign themselves to what they considered ¬their fate.ÿ They were told by the church, ¬Blessed are the poor for theirs is the kingdom of heaven,ÿ so, the more they suffered the higher their place in heaven. Their duty was to obey -- their landlords, their masters, their elders, their government officials. There were no channels to voice out problems and collectively analyze their situation. CBHP work served greatly in raising the social consciousness of the basic sectors and the middle class, especially health professionals and church-people.

CBHPs also made a significant contribution to community organizing in terms of human resources. Because of their leadership skills, the community health workers were among the first to be tapped as organizers of broader sectoral formations. Some were even elected to strategic barangay and local government posts to help draw peopleÿs money and resources rightfully back to the people.

In terms of health services, CBHPs provide basic services previously inaccessible and unaffordable. In organized communities, these include health education, water purification, sewage and waste disposal systems, maternal and child health care, preventive dentistry, and disaster preparedness. More complex services are also available. Among these are food supplementation, under-fives clinic, minor surgery, mental and physical rehabilitation, refugee health care, and simple laboratory procedures.

Now, people seldom feel the consequences of never seeing a doctor all their lives. However, when more specialized care is necessary, CBHPs can facilitate referrals to skilled and compassionate health professionals through its support network.

In terms of advocacy, some of the issues recently addressed were the IMF-World Bank Structural Adjustment Program (SAP), including the privatization of healthcare. CBHPs have also steadily advocated for genuine agrarian reform, a stop to the militarization of the countryside, and the prioritization of health and social services in the national budget.

BUT THE STRUGGLE IS NOT OVER YET

We are only in the first days of 1998 and yet we are now faced with enormous economic problems -- with the peso dangling at an exchange rate of P45.00 to a dollar, with the recent increase in prices of oil products and other basic commodities, while the workersÿ wages are pegged to the barest minimum and the farmers continue to toil. Lalo nating nararamdaman ngayon ang patuloy na pag-atake sa kabuhayan at karapatan ng mga mamamayan. (Even more so, we feel the affront on peopleÿs lives and rights.) These are the concrete effects of the policies that emanate from the greed and drive for profits under the banner of ¬globalizationÿ and applied by our local rulers to the sacrifice of the health and lives of our people. To quell legitimate peopleÿs resistance, the governmentÿs response has been: more militarization, an attempt to re-impose authoritarian rule or the popular entertainment of the season -- the coming (or not coming) elections. Let us brace ourselves to be in the service and more importantly to be with the people in their continuing struggle for social change.

Let us continue the unfinished work started by our martyrs Dr. Bobby dela Paz, Dutch Missionary Sr. Nanette Berentsen (among others), and the hundreds of community health workers and community leaders. May our Congress be an expression of our unity against all anti-people policies of this government and its imperialist masters.

ONWARD WITH THE STRUGGLE FOR SOCIAL CHANGE!
MABUHAY ANG MGA COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKERS!
MABUHAY ANG MGA CBHPS!
MABUHAY ANG SAMBAYANANG PILIPINO!
PADAYON KITA SA PAKIGBISOG!

 

KAWOMENAN SPRING 1998

Contents:

Bursting the Bubble: Financial Crisis hits East Asian "Miracle" Economies

Chapter News

Action Analysis: On the Intensifying Sex Trade in the Philippines

From GABRIELA Philippines

Community-Based Health Programs in the Philippines: 25 Years of Commitment and Service to the People

Growing Up Female and Filipina in America: Some Glimpses into Childhood

 

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kawomenan | publishing center

speakers bureau | kana-pinay radyo

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