CHP No. 1 High Prevalence of Hypertension
In 2019, the team held a mass blood pressure taking for residents aged 20 years old and above. Out of 573 residents, 191 (33%) had hypertension, 214 (37%) had pre-hypertension, and the rest of the population had normal blood pressure. Among the 191 identified hypertensive individuals, only 34 have prescribed medications wherein only 25 were. Furthermore, 94% (178/191) have uncontrolled blood pressure.
To attain the objectives to lower the prevalence of hypertension, the knowledge of the hypertensive and prehypertensive individuals regarding hypertension and its consequences were improved through multiple health teachings and distribution of IEC materials. Moreover, the team lobbied the issue of the lack of antihypertensive medications to the barangay council and a great improvement in the supply of medications in the health center is made. Currently, the barangay is able to procure boxes of medications like amlodipine, losartan, and metoprolol monthly which has helped in the improvement of compliance to medications among hypertensive individuals. Also, the team, together with the BHWs, BNS, and Barangay Nurse, has also established a blood pressure monitoring system. BHWs and BNS were trained on blood pressure monitoring, procurement of BP apparatus were also done. Currently, the barangay has 7 blood pressure monitoring stations. Monthly blood pressure monitoring is also being done in the barangay for the identified hypertensive and prehypertensive individuals.
As a result, from 2020 to present, a decreasing trend of hypertensive individuals with uncontrolled blood pressure is seen. As of August 2022, the percentage of hypertensive individuals with uncontrolled blood pressure has already decreased to 47% from 94% in the year 2020. Moreover, individuals compliant to antihypertensive medications have increased from 67% to 90%.
CHP No. 2 Improper Solid Waste Management
In 2019, 60% (202/338) of the surveyed households practice solid waste management but was improperly done and utilizes mixed practices of waste segregation and disposal such as burning, burying, and throwing anywhere. 40% (136/338) of the surveyed households do not practice proper solid waste management and majority utilizes mixed methods open burning and burying mixed wastes.
To address this concern, the medical students facilitated the establishment of SWM Core Group in the Barangay who will spearhead the programs related to it with the aim of increase the number of households practicing proper solid waste management from 0% to 80% in Barangay La Concepcion, Municipality of Sindangan, Zamboanga del Norte by year 2022. SWM-related knowledge was increased through the core group’s participation in a series of seminar-workshops. Re-echo seminars were conducted per purok. In addition, IEC materials were put in public areas of the barangay and brochures were distributed. The elementary school was also included in the awareness campaign. The 136 identified households that do not practice segregation were each given three sacks for segregation purposes. Communal bins for plastic bottles were placed in public areas in the Barangay.
With everyone’s cooperation, results during evaluation show that 72% (242/338) surveyed households complied to proper segregation at source. 100% of the houses have compost pits on their yard. In a span of 4 years, 89% (302/338) of the surveyed households disposed biodegradables in compost pits and vermicompost while 97% (327/338) of the households dispose non-biodegradable waste properly in the communal bins and MRF. From zero communal bins for plastic bottles, they now have three and from zero MRF in, there are now seven. Moreover, the GSO had already approved a monthly schedule for garbage collection which is every 14th of the month.
CHP No. 3 Lack of Access to Sanitary Toilet
A house to house survey with 338 households in 2019 revealed that 7% (25/338) of the households do not have personal toilet and that 2.3% (8/338) of the households practice open dumping of human wastes.
To eradicate open defecation practices of the households and promote good hygiene practices among the residents, health education and posting of IEC materials were done. There was also provision of sanitary toilets to identified households practicing open dumping and with no personal sanitary toilets on top of the application of the barangay for the Zero Open Defecation (ZOD) status. Monthly monitoring were also done
After the successful implementation the activities and strategies, Barangay La Concepcion is now on its way to be officially declared as a Zero Open Defecation barangay by the LGU and the Department of Health, there was also a significant increase in the knowledge, awareness, and practices regarding the importance of proper hygiene. Now, 100% (338/338) of the households in Barangay La Concepcion has their own toilet facility and open dumping has finally been eradicated.
CHP No. 4 Lack of Water Purification Practices
During the 2019 survey, most of the households get their drinking water on certain artesian wells, store in the container, then drink directly, without any purification technique. This practice has been the standard ever since.
To improve the awareness of the barangay's residents, a series of health lessons addressing the process, benefits, and advantages were administered. In addition, they received seminar and instructional videos regarding boiling and chlorination of water.
An increasing trend in terms of the percentage of households practicing purification methods from a baseline of 162/338 (44%) households in 2019, to 186/338 households (55%) in 2020, 270/338 households (80%) on July 2022, to 300/338 (89%) households on August 2022.