Happy Anniversary CEBU CRISIS ASSISTANCE TEAM

 Happy anniversary!

I am tearfully emotional now remembering how our beloved students (and friends) sprung into action to help - not caring about recognition or fame or cost or risk.

This rooted from a genuine desire to help the community they live in, to save lives, to make a contribution thru whatever way they could help.

Millenials are said to work passionately on things that have meaning for them.  You packed goods. You delivered PPEs. You prepared food packs.  You called together donors and startes information drives on social media.  

You volunteered!  You walked thru VSMMC despite the unknown risks to self simply because you wanted to comfort patients who were afraid and disconnected, and healthcare workers were too busy or too exhausted to sit down to communicate.

My heartfelt thanks to the CEBU CRISIS ASSISTANCE TEAM! 

Know that each time we thank donors, volunteers and partners on SOTTO LIVE programs, I am thinking of you - our brave young men and women of CEBU CRISIS ASSISTANCE TEAM!  Thank you for your sacrifice.  Your assistance has made a great impact on our COVID19 pandemic response.

From the WORLD AIDS DAY celebration to the COVID19 Pandemic response - you guys rock! 

God bless you!

Happy anniversary!

May your tribe increase!

 

Be kind to yourself

 

On days when your heart aches because of unmet expectations and you feel disappointed and frustrated with how things are going, it's good to breathe and unwind.  Ramen is a good idea too.

 

When you know your worth, nobody can stop you from doing (or saying) what you think is right.   Be kind to yourself. Do not punish yourself for the failures of others.  Just like investments, keep your eyes on the long term goal of going up to improve what you have.  Everyday will be a series of ups and downs.

Be kind to yourself.  You are doing your best 

In the end, problema lang yan.  Tawanan lang yan.  Tayo pa rin ang maganda... BECAUSE???

Security and Safety

Tonight on SOTTO LIVE, DEBUNKING MYTHS, we were talking about the role of security guards in the hospital, and how often they are taken for granted.  We tackled myths and misconceptions and instead described the characteristics of a good security guard: 

• Hardworking and vigilant
• Trained formally
• Disciplined in following orders
• Strict about implementing the rules
• Able to give correct instructions
• Kind but firm

So, we appreciate the work of security guards, who are often taken for granted but are our allies in promoting our brand of care.  I quote John Wilson in saying "Too many security officers live day to day.  They just want to be treated with dignity."

Let us take a leaf out of the job description of security officers to remind ourselves that as healthcare workers, we too have a mandate to guard the security and safety of our patients.  First of all, DO NO HARM.

Informed Consent

Crazy busy tearful day, and yet I managed to get some photos out to document it.

Haven't had much time to study the intricacies of the COVID19 vaccine, but what hit me was that people don't like to talk about the possible adverse events folllwing immunization (AEFI) because it might scare the general public from getting vaccinated.  The problem is, as a member of the general public, I don't like being kept in the dark.  All throughout the pandemic we have been saying "do not allow your fears to paralyze you". Knowledge will be your greatest weapon.

My bioethics teacher told me that INFORMED CONSENT includes the components of full accurate information necessary to make a decision (information-giving), and one's voluntary willingness to proceed (consent).  So if health authorities want to improve COVID19 vaccine acceptance, it has to exert efforts in educating people that the BENEFITS of vaccination outweigh the risks.  We have to accept and admit that there are risks. The vaccinees need to willingly take that risk. These risks exist, but we can mitigate these risks and we can be prepared to deal and manage these AEFIs.

We owe it to our vaccinees to provide correct vital information about our interventions so that as recipients of the vaccine, we can properly identify potential side effects and promptly report and seek consult and care.

Keep safe everyone!

Throwback Portraits

 

We have those photos that hit us like blasts from the past when we dig it up.  This particular photo was sent to me by Daniel Oliver Tan, who offered to take my photo during my college days.

Jumpstart everyday

I started exercising mornings in September when I submitted myself to a physical therapy rehabilitation program.  With back pain, we started with stretching and core exercises.  Later on we graduated to floor exercises and low impact aerobic exercises.  After the cardiopulmonary exercise test, we moved on to high impact interval training cardio workouts.

There are days when morning exercise sessions wake me up when I drag myself out of bed.  But these workouts often feel like jumpstarting my day, so I huff and puff and allow the sweat to drip.

To jab or not to jab?

One of the most controversial and most relevant topics of discussion nowadays is about COVID-19 vaccination. As COVID-19 vaccines become available, this will be made available thru the government only. Therefore it is our social responsibility to ensure equitable distribution of this valuable resource, accessibility of efficacious vaccines with manageable side effects and smooth rollout of mass vaccination campaigns with comprehensive planning and proper risk communication.

I was not as updated as I would have liked about COVID-19 vaccination and the issues and barriers to COVID-19, but when I listened to the 11-minute lecture of Dr Edsel Maurice Salvana for the House Hearing on COVID-19 Vaccination Program, it was an infectious disease expert explaining it to me like I was a five year old.

Even Pope Francis is scheduled to have his COVID-19 vaccination, “I believe it that ethically everyone should take the vaccine. It is an ethical choice because you are gambling with your health, with your life, but you are also gambling with the lives of others.”

Join us on Saturday January 23, 2021 at 9PM to discuss about COVID-19 vaccination:

T1. What information about COVID-19 vaccines do you need to know to make an informed decision about COVID-19 vaccination?

T2. Would you get yourself vaccinated? Why or why not?

T3. What do you think would be the barriers to vaccinating the general population?