Emergency Preparedness

Last 2016, post traumatic wound infection ranked top 10 in the morbidity report of barangay New Barili. On 2017, it ranked top 6. For 2018, again post traumatic wound infection was included but alarmingly, it ranked top 4. This January 2019, cases of trauma, wounds without proper treatment have been identified by the group. New Barili has a barangay health station which was rehabilitated by previous medical students. Unfortunately, even with presence of the structure, it still lacks supplies and manpower to keep it fully functional.

A SWOT (Strength, Weakness, Opportunity, and Threat) analysis was then performed by the team, centered on the emergency response system of the baranagy. Target people were the Committee Chairman on Health and Disaster and the Barangay Health Workers. Through this activity, the following were listed down.

Strengths:

- Physical Structure

- Manpower

Weakness:

- Lack of first aid supplies

- Lacks training

- No emergency vehicle

- Incoherent line of communication

Opportunities: none mentioned

Threats:

- Funds

- Political views

There are only few people who are trained to do first aid. Education and training on first aid are some strategies used by international, national, and local agencies and governments. These activities aim to address the concerns of the community in relation to first aid and will help promote safety and security to the people and empower the members who will be trained in barangay New Barili.

On January 28, 2019, the group conducted a health teaching and training to the barangay council members, barangay kagawads, barangay tanods, and barangay health workers. Twenty (20) participants were able to attend the session, but only 17 were able to complete all activites. For the first activity, a pre-test was first done, followed by the health teaching focusing on basic wound care, then ending it with a post test. The second activity focused on skills, wherein the participants are to perform a return demonstration on basic wound care. The activity was deemed a success with 12/17 participants passing the pre-test, then 16/17 passing the post test and had increased to their previous scores, and all passing the return demonstration.

A one-time activity will not help solve this problem. The group hopes to answer the concern of the community with regards to emergency response system through continuous education and proper training, which is one of the strategies of the group for the whole community exposure until the 4th year. These people will then, hopefully, provide first aid to the community people who are and will be in need of their assistance, despite the absence of medical students.

-Monique Macrohon