RN HEALS MONTHLY JOURNAL

November 2011
Name: Karen Flores Baduya

Area of Assignment: RHU-Milaor

Milaor, Camarines Sur

I.
ACTIVITIES:
In November 2011, the DOH spearheaded the deployment of nurses (RN Heals Batch II).
Its aim is to assist in the provision of health services in poor communities as part of the
DOHs support to the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) of the DSWD.
RNheals II seeks to augment the inadequate nursing workforce in DOH hospitals and a
number of Local Government Unit (LGU) health facilities to improve patient care and
health services. Likewise, the program aims to create a pool of registered nurses with
enhanced clinical and public health competencies towards the improvement of the
delivery of health services.
I am deployed as part of this program. My main mission as a Public Health Nurse is to
maintain focus on communities where maternal and child morbidity and mortality rates
are high. We will be undergoing learning and development in public health during our
one (1) year of deployment. We will be exposed to the implementation of public health
programs and provision of health services. I am assigned at Milaor Rural Health Unit
which is in my hometown, Milaor, Camarines Sur.
To start with, I attended the Orientation / Seminar at Sto. Domingo, Albay for 2days. We
stayed at Coastal View Beach Resort, accommodation and foods charged to DOH.
Together with other nurses & midwives assigned to different municipalities in the whole
Region V, we were oriented regarding the programs that DOH is implementing in the
Philippines specifically the Universal Health Care, 4Ps and MNCHN.
We are 2 Nurses deployed in the LGU-Milaor. During the first day of duty, we were
endorsed by our DOH Representative: Jocelyn Batalla assisted by Glenda Tena our RHU
Supervisor to the Municipal Mayor of Milaor with the 20 Barangay Captains of the
Municipality. Our scope of responsibility was discussed to the Municipal Officials and to
get their support in meeting our goals.
Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) of the DSWD is one of the program we are
tasked to make sure it is implemented. I witnessed the registration of families in the
Milaor Covered Court for 6 days from Nov. 21-26, 2011.
We were briefly discussed by the main concerns as to the purpose of RN Heals Program
in the RHU Milaor. After which, we were oriented at the Center for the Daily Routine &
we planned our activities this coming year 2012. We planned to conduct Mothers
Classes to the 20 Barangays of the Municipality.
The health department hopes to decrease by 75 percent the number of mothers who die
during childbirth by making sure mothers will give birth at a birthing facility and assisted
by a skilled health professional. The Department of Health (DOH) has secured national

funding for the Maternal Newborn, Child Health and Nutrition (MNCHN), a strategy to
address the high rates of maternal mortality.
RNheals nurses like me, will be trained to become trainers and supervisors to coordinate
with community-level workers and CHTs (Community Health Teams). It is my job to
make sure we will assist families with their health needs, provide health information, and
facilitate communication with other health providers.
I start the day by logging in to our Logbooks. Our shift is 8am till 12nn and will be back
by 1pm to 5pm, Mondays to Fridays. We admitted patients weekly and as per Doctors
order, we supply them the prescribed medicine as long as it is available in the center.
We educate mothers about proper breastfeeding, hygiene and proper nutrition. The
common complaint we receive is colds, cough, fever and hypertensive elders. We
provided first aid measures to wounds related to fall, accidents before referring them to
tertiary hospitals for further medication and/ or treatment.
I am tasked to give effort in the provision of necessary services, better coordination
among government agencies, such as DOH, DepEd, DSWD, and DILG, that is essential
for the achievement of the MDG ( Millennium Development Goal).
As part of my duty, I volunteered to come to the Provincial Health Office in Bula with
Maam France Valenciano to get MMR vaccines. We were given an aneroid
sphygmomanometer with stand as supply to our RHU from the DOH.

I also monitored the facilitation of the EPI every Wednesday. Conducted by midwives
and supervised by nurses. I also assisted in conducting PAP smears to women every
Tuesday and Thursday. I also attended Flag Ceremony during Mondays and Flag Retreat
during Fridays.
This week, the RHU Milaor is undergoing renovation. They are replacing the door and
the windows from wood to glass. This is just the beginning of fixing the building to make
sure that health is properly implemented starting from a good conducive health center.

II. LEARNINGS/INSIGHTS:
We were advised that deployed nurses will receive a monthly allowance of Php 8,000.
We will be provided with PhilHealth Insurance, GSIS Group Accident Insurance. As a
Nurse assigned in the Rural Health Unit we will receive additional assistance in the form
of lodging and meals, among others, from the Local Government Units (LGUs) as
provided in the Joint Memorandum Circular No. 2011-0044 between the DILG, DOH
and DSWD.
We were also informed that we will be evaluated on a regular basis during our one-year
deployment period. Those who will successfully complete the program will be given

Certificates of Completion and will be considered for priority employment in government

health facilities should vacancies exist.
Universal Health Care (UHC), also referred to as Kalusugan Pangkalahatan (KP), is the
provision to every Filipino of the highest possible quality of health care that is
accessible, efficient, equitably distributed, adequately funded, fairly financed, and
appropriately used by an informed and empowered public. The Aquino administration
puts it as the availability and accessibility of health services and necessities for all
Filipinos.
It is a government mandate aiming to ensure that every Filipino shall receive affordable
and quality health benefits. This involves providing adequate resources health human
resources, health facilities, and health financing. (As quoted in the DOH website.)
As part of our effort to achieve Kalusugan Pangkalahatan, I am confident that these
programs will help contribute to rapid increase in PhilHealth enrolment, improved access
to quality care in hospitals and other health care facilities, and in the attainment of our
Millennium Development Goals, as quoted by Ona.
III. ISSUES/CONCERNS:
I know I will learn a lot in this period of deployment. I am confident that I will be able to
use my skills as a nurse to help people in need especially my fellow Milaorians. I am not
oblivious that we really lack proper education and implementation of good health
measures. In order for me to do this, I had just observed some minimal things in the
center that needs to be addressed. With regards to patients record system: it is not well
stored in the assigned record section.
Most of the records are lacking in its storage cabinet. Patients also forgot to bring their
records specially when it is below 5 yrs old. The tendency is to duplicate the record and
therefore clogging the record system. The risk for this is that the record will either be
misplaced, destroyed or worst, falsified.
IV. RECOMMENDATIONS:
I suggest that we have monthly updating of the records and separate an area for frequent
patient that has scheduled treatment at the center. I advised to have a big cabinet for the
storage of the files.
I would also like to add: Each and every one should be conscious of health. We should
actively get information on Phil Health and other health services and to regularly visit
health centers and rural health units to avail of vaccination and free consultations for us
and our family members. After all, we are in charge of our own health as quoted
Secretary Ona.
Signed:
Karen Flores Baduya RN
License No. 0681423
RN HEALS NURSE
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