by Christopher Rey Lagaya Estrada Ф2017A
On the 14th of September 2018, the Phi Kappa Mu set out to Pinaglabanan Elementary School in San Juan to begin the first lecture of the Five-Pronged Health Strategy on children’s health, FortiPHI. The day was humid and the sun was at its peak, however that didn’t stop the more than 100 parents of children from Grade 1 who all gathered in the covered courts of the school to listen to the talk. Their curiosities piqued with the word “vaccine” displayed at the forefront of the session, with the most recent news in mind a desire to know more in their hearts.
After the prayer was said, and the National Anthem was sung, the host introduced the speaker for the day. From the side of the courts came Alberto Mañibo Ong Jr., MD Φ2008B, a graduate of the UP College of Medicine, loyal son of the most venerable fraternity, former Municipal Health Officer at San Sebastian, Samar, under the Doctors to the Barrios program (DTTB), and current executive director and project manager of Alliance for Improving Health Outcomes (AIHO). With his expertise in primary health care, as well as the Philippine Public Health System, he ran down a lecture simple enough for the parents to understand, yet comprehensive enough to clarify all common misconceptions about vaccines, and their mode of action.
Dr. Ong first asked from the parents their definition of a vaccine. One mother sharply answered that they were a means to keep people healthy. Another, added to her definition, stating that it was administered to children to prevent them from getting sick. Dr. Ong congratulated these parents as they were both correct in their answers. He then started speaking about the different vaccines. From the hyperepidemic Hepatitis B to the medieval polio, Dr. Ong carefully explained the inner working of vaccine induced immunity and how they have been one of the greatest breakthroughs in medical science, debunking common misconceptions, with each one corrected adding more knowledge to the curious minds of the parents, even going deep into the controversial territory of Dengvaxia in order to bring light into a realm once full of fear and doubt in the minds of the participants.
Dr. Ong, then ended his lecture. He was awarded a certificate of appreciation for his endeavors for the day, and right afterwards a member of the faculty proceeded to distribute consent forms to allow the school to vaccinate the children of the parents. Thus, with the promise of health for their children, the parents of Pinaglabanan Elementary school ended the very first session of the first prong of FortiPHI enlightened and ready to spread to light further into their own homes.
This is the Service the Phi Kappa Mu. One that is built upon the foundation of sustainability and knowledge. One that Seeks to Make a Difference.
Nothing more. Nothing less. Nothing else.
