Merienda Cena en Cebu: The Public Health Heart

CEBU CITY - In celebration of its 4th founding anniversary, CIM's school choir Cimphony organized the first-ever Merienda cena en Cebu in cooperation with the Alliance for Improving Health Outcomes. The event was held on September 8, 2014 from 5:00 to 8:00 P.M. at the conference room of Mcdonald's Jones. There were 35 medical students in attendance, from CIM and from SWU-MHAMCM.

Public health issues and opportunities were the main topics of the merienda cena, with Dr. Lester Sam A. Geroy of the WHO Cebu City Field Office and Dr. Grace Fe Buquiran, Executive Assistant of the DOH Undersecretary of Health Gako. The said speakers presented to the participants the Philippine current health statistics and situation such as:

• The Philippines is now classified by the ASEAN as a low middle income country, in lieu of being called as a developing country. However, efforts are now focused on making the country a high income country by 2025.
• The top diseases in our country are the non-communicable diseases (such as hypertension, diabetes, and cancer), HIV/AIDS, and tuberculosis.
• The health care sector is focused on enhancing the health facilities of the country.
• A trend of brain gain is now observed in the country, instead of brain drain that started in 1986 (Martial Law era). 
• There are also plans to improve the quality of health care in the country, such as: ASEAN integration, more local and national investment in health, more funds from tobacco taxes, PhilHealth covering more people and benefits, an interconnected health information system, further regulation of medicine prices, and Philippine foreign policy and institution on international health aid, among others.

It was emphasized in the talks that the public health heart of idealism, adventure, and community service are needed by our country. Public health doctors look beyond the patient's disease, integrating the roles of the family, community, and different health systems in the prevention and the cure of disease. The essence of public health lies in the provision of the best possible service, with meager resources. Contrary to popular belief, there are numerous opportunities in public health such as research, mental health, public health law, health informatics, and health systems.

Photo ops with the speakers- SSC President, Stacey Militante (leftmost) with some officers of Cimphony: Cyrus Tejam, Bede Ilano, Alfred Angulo, and Mark Magallon

Student Leaders from CIM and SWU-MHAMCM with the speakers

Dr. Buquiran asked a resonating question; "Instead of asking, why don't you make a stand?"

Instead of complaining about the quality of health care in our country as an outsider, why don't we help improve the system from the inside out as a physician with a heart?

Written by Dena Mae Amor N. Desabille of Batch Spectra
Photos courtesy of Cyrus Tejam of Batch Asterion