Speak to me

you just might be my rescue;

let your flowery words

be the garden I can walk in forever.

Utter those three words-

"I have food" - but I hunger for more

"Let's go out" - it's raining outside

"Sing with me" - I do not know the tune

...

...

...

...

"...I love you"

- oh darling, your silence meant so much more

Artwork by Liza Agpawa

Poem by "Her"

Newborn Screening

Source: Google images

Part of the Millenium Development Goals by 2015 is to reduce child mortality and under this goal is to provide early detection and early intervention for diseases that impact long-term health of the children. Newborn Screening (NBS) has been one of the measures to achieving this goal. In the Philippines, the state has mandated that every child born be offered this screening test as a right to survival and healthy development as normal individuals. This procedure screens for six congenital metabolic disorders: Congenital Hypothyroidism, Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia, Galactosemia, Phenylketonuria, G6PD Deficiency, and Maple Syrup Urine Disease. It has been estimated that 33,000 infants every year, nearly four every hour, are affected by any of these disorders. When left untreated, these may lead to mental retardation or even death.

NBS is ideally done immediately after 24 hours from birth, when the baby has begun feeding. A heel prick blood sample is taken and blotted on a special absorbent filter card and sent to the Newborn Screening Center. When an infant tests negative, the results are normal. However, when it is a positive screen, he/she is brought back for confirmatory testing and further management.

Thus, it is the responsibility of the health practitioners to be aware of the advantages of newborn screening and to educate parents of these advantages in promoting health to their children; protecting them from disabilities associated with disorders that could have been prevented and be treated early.

October is the Newborn Screening Month

Written by Cybelle Caramba of Batch Asterion

Not Enough

I keep telling you
I am just right here
But it hangs in air
You never did hear

You don't have the time
To look back and see
That I'm still right here
Holding on to thee

I don't know how to
Put matters to play
I still do love you
But I've lost my way

I really did wait
I'd stare at my phone
Days would pass me by
And I'd cry alone

All I've asked from you
Is a bit time off
I offered you all mine
But that's not enough

Written by Disguised Angel

Yet I Read

I woke at 2 A.M. today. I glance at the pile of books on my table. Did I fall asleep? What was I doing? I couldn't remember. When did I get in bed? I stand up and walk to the table and look at the book still propped up on the bookstand. I see that the sentence I highlighted seemed blurry and messy. Did I fall asleep while I was reading it? I look at the list of chapters I listed and realize that I'm halfway done. Halfway. I don't even remember what I just read! I'm frustrated and stressed, and yet I read.

I have about 30 minutes before the test starts and I feel so unprepared. I sneak a peek at the people in the library and they all seem so calm. Maybe they're panicking on the inside? Was I the only one who was unable to stick to my schedule? I skim through my notes and I find that nothing is sinking in. Why am I so off schedule? What was I doing the whole week? I remember taking a day off after that last test (I wasn't prepared then) I remember reading for our SGD all those other days so why am I so unprepared? 15 minutes to the test, I cram. I haven't had breakfast, I haven't put on my makeup, my hair is a mess, and I'm stressed. Yet I read.

The results came in today and I'm disappointed. I was so sure I got those questions right. Obviously I was wrong. They all seem so contented and happy with their grades and I feel a tinge of jealousy bubbling up. Why am I so stupid? Why is it hard for me to make the cut-off? I make a promise to myself that I'll do better next time and that I'll stick to the schedule. I watch a movie though and I come home late so I don't do anything school related. I wake up the next morning unprepared for the SGD. I panic, I'm stressed and yet I read.

Days turn to weeks, weeks to months and I struggle to keep up with the bulk of material I need to catch up on. I gather all the books, all the notes and pile them up on my table. I have a week left to read one year's worth of subject matter. What was I doing the entire time? Why do all this information seem so new to me? Have I read this before? I cram every piece of information I could get. An hour before that final test I'm unprepared. I'm way behind. I'm hungry, I'm thirsty and I'm stressed. Yet I read.

They gave us the yellow paper today and I wait until I'm alone to unfold it. My heart beats fast, my hands are shaking, I'm sweating... I open it...

I smirk to myself and walk away. The cycle continues.

Written by Alexis Eirene Suarez of Batch Asterion

Studying

Night comes and passes swiftly by
As I try to read and understand
These countless books and notes around
Sadly waving my sleep goodbye

The hours seem slowly draining
A luxury constantly lost
Exchanged with some knowledge to boast
But have I really learned anything?

The pages to read all pile up
Like flood water to a dam
Taking bit by bit the moment's calm
To a point where I have to stop

Stop for a break and not quitting
I may be tired and tense as well
But I'm on the road I can tell
To a dream I keep on dreaming

A cup of coffee on my table
Colored highlighters on my hand
Some music of my favorite band
Friends to chat with when able

Few crazy doodles on some graphs
Packs of peanuts and chips to eat
A bit of humor while I'm at it
Nothing beats a refreshing laugh

Flipping pages like a wizard
Eyeing text like a connoisseur
I can be creative for sure
Making learning not so hard

I may not be able to finish
All of these that needs to be
But I'll complete them eventually
As long as my drive's not diminished

My ideals met the reality
But it's still me who'll set the limit
Of what I'll be in heart and spirit
A physician that's what I'll be

Dawn is surely on its way
Time to sleep the time that remains
Get the most energy to be gained
For the new challenges of today

Written by Joclef Suerte of Batch Vertex

The Might of Titans

With the most recent success of our very own Batch Syncytia in the Philippine Medical Licensure Exam, having not only come through with 100% passing rate but landing the top 1 and 5 spots as well, this humbled creature is left gaping in awe. Bragging rights aside, I sincerely couldn't be more proud (or more pressured) of their achievements. The caliber of the CIM student body never ceases to amaze me. In comparison, I feel like a fish out of water. Scratch that, I feel like a fish on Mars. After a semester, I would've expected to have a handle on things by now. But, well, to steal a line from my pal Thorin Oakenshield, "I have never been so wrong."

Caught up in the whirlwind of massive texts, pilfered notes, and nearly drowning myself in cup after cup of my new-found best friend: coffee (because my once-faithful sidekick ice cream has forsaken me) in a futile attempt to catch up with everything and everyone, it feels like I've just succeeded in digging myself an early grave. Feeling lost, confused, unsure of what to do, where to go, what to eat, and which to read first, these have never felt more familiar to me than these past few weeks. Sleep deprivation has become the norm not only for me but for every single disillusioned freshman, sleeping at ungodly hours and forcing ourselves out of bed at the crack of dawn, only managing to steal a few short hours of shuteye every day if we're lucky and maybe even beating ourselves up over the fact that we should have studied more. What with all the studying, prioritizing, and keeping up with the reading material, it certainly feels as though med school has fully taken over our lives.

Source: www.medigist.files.wordpress.com

But giving credit where it's due, we had been warned, we all knew this wasn't going to be an easy ride and that we'd have to make sacrifices along the way. After all, we belong among the best, it's only fitting that we have to prove we are the best. But making those tough choices is as simple as deciding with your SGD-mates where you all want to eat for lunch (serious dilemma, people). Somewhere along the line when my inner toddler was clinging to her blankie and bawling her eyes out for her mommy, I realized it pays to have a strong support system not just now but for the next couple of years we'll be spending in this institution. When we fail, it's easy to lose sight of ourselves, our dreams, our goals. We may start to ask ourselves if this is worth it, begin to doubt ourselves and our ability to make it through, and that's when our fears start to take control. 

It's the time we dedicate and sacrifice and invest in our passions that make them so important. Others may not see it, no one else may understand, but if you know this is what you truly love, don't ever give it up. Don't let a few doubters and naysayers destroy your dream, not even yourself. It's true that you are your worst critic, so don't be too hard on yourself. Acknowledge your mistakes, accept that you cannot change them, learn from them, and move on. Celebrate your victories, no matter how small and insignificant you think they may be, because you're great in the eyes of those who love you. Don't ever think you're unworthy or not good enough because the simple truth of the matter is, you're awesome just the way you are, so don't ever start to believe otherwise.

Trust you heart, have faith in yourself, and have no doubt that you are exactly where you're supposed to be, doing exactly what you're supposed to do. We may be braving uncharted territories, but we're in this together. I may not know what the future will bring, but a few parting words from the not-so-wise: keep on pushing.

Written by Elizabeth Wagas of Batch Vertex

The Road Less Traveled By

Cebu City, Cebu -- The Cebu Institute of Medicine (CIM) hosted a forum on public health entitled, "The Road Less Traveled By," on October 8, 2014. Four alumni of the University of the Philippines College of Medicine (Ermita, Manila) were the principal speakers. The two-hour event was divided into three parts: a chronological narrative of the speakers' journey leading to a career in public health, including the qualifications and skills essential in the field; and the health situation in the Philippines and its current challenges.

Dr. Katherine Ann V. Reyes (Batch 2005), founding member, Executive Director of the Alliance for Improving Health Outcomes, Inc. (AIHO), independent consultant and adjunct faculty member in the UP Open University, represented the private sector involved in providing health services. Essentially, her talk emphasized the role of doctors as managers of human health resources.

Dr. Michael S. Caampued (Batch 2010), Municipal Health Officer of Polillo, Quezon, squared on idealism, voluntarism, initiative. Since obtaining his physician's license and his subsequent installment in the local government unit, he had authored numerous ordinances, policies, and other papers. His deep understanding of health systems, governance and financing enabled him to effect important changes in Polillo.

Dr. Katerina N. Abiertas (Batch 2008), first doctor in and Municipal Health Officer in Zumarraga, Western Samar, was formerly part of the Doctors to the Barrio program. Through her efforts, a total transformation of the health situation of her hometown was realized. She became an active proponent of One Island, One Sea Ambulance, among other projects. Of all aspects in public health, her talk stressed the value of understanding health financing and governance.

Dr. Lester Sam A. Geroy (Batch 2005), founding member of AIHO and team leader of the World Health Organization Cebu Field Office, facilitated the forum.

For the first time in many years, the CIM-SSC organized such activity intended to increase awareness and participation of the students and faculty members in societal issues.

Written by Elizabeth Hernani of Batch Asterion