These series of photographs were taken last December 5, 2018. We received a call from a hospital about an old male patient who has not been visited by his relatives for weeks already. The staff is coordinating with us to help them facilitate the transfer of this patient to where he lives.
1422. This is Nurse Claire, the NDP assigned in the identified barangay where the patient's relatives are residing. In this photo, she is now communicating with the Barangay Chairman trying to verify some details.
1541. After getting a call back from the Chairman confirming that the patient lives in their barangay, and that the relatives have been informed about the patient already, we immediately went to the hospital.
In the above photos, Nurse Claire is giving some discharge instruction about the home medications given by the hospital. She is doing some health education and is helping the patient put on his face mask properly.
1600. The patient told us that he has a nephew living in the town proper and asked if we could just bring him there instead.
In this photo, Nurse Claire and Sir Joel (the ambulance driver) is talking to the nephew.
1603. That guy without a shirt is the nephew, who is now talking to the patient explaining why he couldn't accept him in his house because he is also unemployed and cannot assure that he can financially support the patient.
So we decided to head to the barangay where his other nephew lives.
1618. We arrived in the Barangay and was directed to go to this humble home. This was the house where the patient was staying before he was admitted in the hospital. He was under the care of his nephew but because the nephew couldn't stand the grumpiness of the patient (his uncle) he stopped visiting him.
1619. Nurse Claire talking to the nephew of the patient. Giving the discharge instruction and home medications.
1624. Nurse Claire counselling the patient, emphasizing the importance of taking his medication.
After endorsing the patient to the nephew, we went home with a heavy heart. Nobody would want to be in the old man's shoes, abandoned and helpless. Both nephews are living in difficult situations and struggling as well. These are the kind of stories, that would just tear our hearts apart because we can't do anything about it. Poverty in the Philippines is a common scenario and we see it everyday, everywhere.
On a lighter note, this story is still worth sharing. This is about people going out of their way to help someone. This is only one of the many stories of a life of a community health nurse that most of us don't see everyday because most of them are on the field taking care of other people silently.
Let this story be a reminder, to be passionate and be dedicated with our job and to always always find a way on how we could possibly help someone in need even if its unconventional and uncomfortable.
Our performance may be defined by the number of targets and accomplishments, the reports and deadlines, but let us all recall why we are here. Life is not all about the data we captured but on how we put our hearts to make a lasting impact in the lives of the people and in the community.