Finally after almost a year we have gathered all the hypertensives that are enrolled to our program. There were almost 30 of them who showed up! It was more than what we have expected because in our previous meetings, only a handful would come to attend. This was definitely a pleasant surprise! We asked them to have their BPs checked twice weekly for them to get free antihypertensive mediactions from the local government. The response was positive. In the succeeding weeks more and more of them went to us and had their BPs checked. Hoping that this would continue. 

It was nice seeing the BHWs once again. We just wanted to check if they still could remember what we taught them last year like BP-taking and we discovered that there is a need for a refresher course for that. We also oriented them to our plans for the Hypertensive client and how crucial their roles are in materializing those plans. They were cooperating and promised that they will do everything they can. We enjoyed our time with them. It was easier communicating with them because for the past years, we have cultivated relationships with them.

Wastong pagkain sa hapag kainan
Kung ito may di makamtan
Ngayon na ang tamang panahon para simulan
Na ang gutom at malnutrisyon ay sama-sama nating wakasan

Masustansyang pagkain laging kainin
Pagkain ng prutas at gulay ay ugaliin
Sustansya mula sa ibang pagkain wag palampasin
Tandaan na ito’y balansehin

Taghirap ay di dahilan
Upang nutrisyon ay kalimutan
Pagkat ito’y sadyang kayamanan
Di dapat balewalain kailanman

Ano pa ang iyong hinihintay?
Wag na tayong magpapatay-patay
Tulungan naten si nanay at tatay
Labanan ang gutom at malnutrisyon ng sabay-sabay

Nang aking gunitain sa aking ala-ala ang mga taong nagdaan lalo na noong akoy musmos pa lamang, nasabi ko na hindi na nga naman bago ang paksa tungkol sa nutrisyon dahil taon-taon may buwan na inilalaan para dito. Bukod sa masaya at bibong pagdiriwang, isa sa pinakahindi ko malilimutan ay ang mga pagkaing inihahain sa mga panahong ito. Alam niyo naman siguro kung ano di ba?

                   Bumabaha ang mga prutas at gulay sa mga panahong ganito ngunit pagkatapos ng buwan ng Hulyo, nasaan na tayo? Tuloy pa ba sa pagkain ng mga masusustansyang pagkain o bumabalik sa nakasanayang mga pagkain na kung minsa’y lihis sa ating kaalaman ay nakakasira sa atin? Marahil may mga sasagot na OPO, masusustansya parin ang aking kinakain. Meron ding sasagot na OPO, bumabalik kami sa nakasanayan na at meron ding wala talagang isasagot… ngunit, kahit na ano mang sagot meron kayo, may isang bagay akong gustong ibahagi sa inyo bago pa matapos ang buwang ito:

                   Hindi lamang sa buwan ng Hulyo maaalala natin ang kalusugan; dapat buong taon natin itong tandaan at paghandaan

Ayon nga sa kasabihan:

                   “Kung gusto ay maraming paraan;

                   Kung ayaw ay maraming dahilan”

Kaya imbes na magdgahilan, gawan na lang natin ng paraan…

                   Walang bagay na di natin kakayanin, kung ito’y pagtutulungan natin..

Sabay-sabay nating sabihin:

                   “Kahit na maliit pa ako

                   Labanan ang gutom at malnutrisyon ay kaya ko.”

“Ang Kabataan ay Pag-asa ng Bayan” as the Philippine National Hero Dr. Jose Rizal might have quote for quite some time-sounds cliché right? Indeed, but as it has also been said, “history repeats itself”. Funny as it may seem but the prevalence of Malnutrition in Barangay Gaulan seemed to become a cycle and way of living since time immemorial. From highs and lows it goes but one thing remains-MALNUTRITION, and its flaws.

Behind a bashful smile of a child you meet at the corner of the street in Gaulan is a hidden hunger that never seemed to be satisfied-hunger that not only food could satisfy

At the first thought, when being faced with a challenge on the topic about malnutrition, prejudice almost always seem to override  and above all these is HUNGER-primarily due to lack of food to be prepared by the hungry parents themselves. Yet, being in Gaulan for almost 4 years now, many things have change and new perspective and reality in life has been brought to light. Here, it was made clear that there are some things that FOOD ALONE cannot satisfy.

Of course, food is a basic necessity and is much easier to be provided for as compared to the challenge of fighting the apathy of the parents who have malnourished child whose provision is far beyond the capacity of those who want to extend help.

 Going through the trend of malnutrition, it is clear to see that many projects have been done both by the government and non-government organizations through the years to provide for the gap that malnutrition gives yet the same scenario goes on and on-why? Well, maybe there are a lot of factors that plays forth its prevalence but one thing that is believed to have been overlooked is the thing about the complacency of the parents involved. This complacency seemed to be rooted personally and is something that is too difficult to be unearthed.

So far, all aspects has been targeted by the group and the project of Aksyon  Nutrisyon para sa Batang Gaulanon seeks to go beyond what is seen and  thus tries to find means of fighting against apathy. In this effort, it can be stated: “Pag-asa ng Bayan nasa Kabataan, Kapag Kanilang Nutrisyon ay di Napabayaan”.