Community clinics a blessing for Sumilao, Davao

MANILA, Philippines - While adequate healthcare remains far-fetched for most Filipinos, there are areas in the country that are blessed with clinics complete with doctors and free medicines.

At Sumilao in Bukidnon, Janie, 29, and sister-in-law Baby, 22, bring two-year-old Reynante to the San Miguel Corp. community clinic situated in Barangay San Vicente, where doctors take turns in treating patients regularly for free.

“Dito kami nagpupunta sa clinic ng San Miguel kasi may doktor palagi tapos libre pa ang gamot. Sa center kasi sa amin, walang gamot,”says Janie at the waiting area filled with parents, kids and even the elderly.

Dr. Joan Villanueva drives from Cagayan de Oro to handle patients at least thrice a month. “Most people opt to come here because the nearest complete hospital is in Malaybalay,”she explains.

“Malaking blessing para sa amin ang community clinic,”says San Vicente barangay captain Genevive Sohento, who gives endorsements for indigent residents direly in need of the clinic’s services.

Several kilometers away, in Davao del Sur, Dr. Hans Dolor spends his afternoons at the San Miguel Brewery, Inc. Community Clinic just a stone’s throw away from the SMB Davao Brewery in Barangay Darong. Although slightly smaller than the Sumilao facility under the wing of San Miguel Pure Foods, the Davao clinic is perfectly adequate for the needs of the community.

“If we can do minor surgeries, we do it here. Otherwise, we refer them to the nearest tertiary hospital,”says Dolor, who engages the patients in light banter while treating them. He acts as company doctor in the morning for SMB then moves to the community clinic in the afternoon.

“It’s good to be of service to the community,”reiterates Dolor, who adds that the clinic has already treated 900 patients since its launch in August 2008.

Just like the Sumilao clinic, the Davao clinic treats all kinds of illnesses from upper respiratory diseases to pulmonary tuberculosis and diabetes. And patients are assured of the complete set of medicines to nurse them back to health.

Dolor feels that they are indeed making a difference.”We’ve had 23 pulmonary tuberculosis patients, of which 12 are already cured. We make sure they have complete medicines and have repeat x-rays after three months,”he cites as an example.

As health is equivalent to wealth, the presence of these community clinics is a call to action to the private sector to do its share in helping augment the country’s health program.