Looking into the health profile of Barangay San Agustin in San Fernando City, La Union

INTRODUCTION: This study describes the community health status of Barangay (village) San Agustin in San Fernando City, La Union Province, with the aim of identifying key health problems in the community that would be the focus for the next summer immersions.METHODOLOGY: Data on the community was gathered via community ocular inspection, house-to-house surveys, inspection of barangay health records, and informal interviews. Data was analyzed qualitatively.RESULTS: The community consisted predominantly of one-income households with dependence on manual labor as the source of income (76%). This affected the daily budget for basic necessities, most notably for food. Cough (45%), colds (34%) and fever (50%) were the most common illnesses, particularly for children below five years of age (47%). This age group of children was often listed with low to very low birth weight and low weight for age (52%). There was no problem with regard to environmental health and sanitation, and with regard to health services, manpower and facilities, 92% of residents avail of services in the health center.CONCLUSION: Next community immersions will focus on children's health and nutrition.

Our 3-year community immersion in Barangay Tinajero, Bacolor, Pampanga: Hope in the land of survivors

Barangay Tinajero is one of the most depressed barangays (barrios) among the 21 barangays of Bacolor, Pampanga. Two UPCM (University of the Philippines, College of Medicine) Class 2012 Regionalization Program (RP) students conducted their three consecutive summer immersions (2008-2010) in Barangay Tinajero, Bacolor, the student's activities and their reflection on their experiences in the barangay.