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?

Gawad Bayaning Kalusugan

 GAWAD BAYANING KALUSUGAN announced 12 winners of the INDIVIDUAL category and I was blessed to be included in the list.

 

My mother said that some people are fortunate to be doing the work that they love doing, but receiving recognition for it tops it all!

Thank you for the recognition!  

My grandfather taught me that if something is worth doing at all, it is worth doing well.  St Therese of the Child Jesus said nothing is small in the eyes of God, so do what you do with love and do ordinary things extraordinarily well.  Inspired also by Arthur Ashe (PLHIV tennis champion), we face the challenge of responding to the COVID19 pandemic by starting where we are, using what we have and doing what we can!

Honored and humbled, we celebrate each achievement as a blessing.  The victory of one is the victory of all.  Our shared identity, this is made possible by the cooperation of the healthcare workers of the VSMMC COVID19 Health Facility.  In unity there is strength! #TatakSOTTO #BeatCOVID19 #WeHealAsOne

Congratulations to the Department of Family Medicine for winning team category!  Congratulations as well to Dr Mishelle Vonnabie Bala (the secret weapon and MVP), to the VSMMC Subnational Laboratory, the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology and the Department of Pediatrics!

Thank you to the organizers Carl Balita and the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry for recognizing the efforts of the COVID-19 frontline healthcare workers when once upon a time we were met with stigma, discrimination and investigations into management, expenses and financial charging - all sources of additional stress to our COVID-19 warriors!