TVI

by Dr. Ulysses Silorio, TVIRD Canatuan physician

I’ve been in Canatuan for just over four months. Yet, its serenity, closeness to nature, and rustic charm always captivate and challenge me to understand deeply the culture and ways of its people, the Subanon lumad (indigenous people). It is my fervent wish to be able to put up a health system that does not only fit their centuries-old traditions but also helps them recognize the need to be always conscious of their health.

The more than 2,000 Subanons and a thousand or so Christians make up the population of Canatuan, host to the copper-zinc mining operations of TVI Resource Development Philippines, Inc. (TVIRD). As the company physician, my primary concern is to maintain the good health of these people, whether they’re employees or members of our host and surrounding communities.

Canatuan is far from the comforts of urban life. Strategically located on Zamboanga del Norte province’s boundary with Zamboanga Sibugay, it is 29 kilometers northeast of Siocon, the host municipality and 40 kilometers west of Sibugay’s RT Lim town. Mining, however, has brought technology to this remote mountain village. That’s why the A(H1N1) scare that is gripping the whole Philippine archipelago has not escaped the attention of everybody in Canatuan, thanks to the Internet and television. The global pandemic, of course, is a cause for concern for the TVIRD Canatuan Management Team.

While the country was being besieged by reports of so many cases of A(H1N1) in Metro Manila, particularly in schools, in the first week of June, I began a program that I am confident will help combat the disease. My goal: an A(H1N1)-free Canatuan.

I believe in preventive and curative form of caring for people’s health. That’s why during the second week of June I embarked on an information and education campaign on A(H1N1). I started with members of the TVIRD Canatuan Management Team, with the General Parents-Teachers and Community Association in both elementary and high school levels, and then with employees of the TVIRD Canatuan Maintenance Department.

To let the lumad understand the nature of this disease and how it could be transmitted to other people, I did my best to simplify the medical terms used in my presentation materials. In lay man’s terms, I explained that transmission could be deterred through proper hygiene and by eating nutritious foods such as green leafy vegetables and fruits which are always readily available in Canatuan.

Then I required mine site guests to report to the company clinic before conducting their official business. They have to inform clinic personnel of their recent travel history, especially if places they came from have reported cases of A(H1N1), or if they had been in contact with people or animals like pigs who had exhibited symptoms of the disease. Visitors found to be in these categories are advised to monitor their health for at least ten days. Those who have fever accompanied by cough, sore throat, nasal congestion, or difficulty of breathing, or already vomiting, having headaches, chills or suffer fatigue will be taken care of at the clinic. Employees who report to work from their staff or vacation leaves and begin showing any or all of these symptoms will be advised to undergo self-quarantine

I am happy to say that, to date, as in the whole of Mindanao, Canatuan remains free of the A(H1N1) virus.

I have received positive responses for our efforts. Ely Valmores, TVIRD Canatuan Maintenance Manager says operations will definitely be adversely affected if the virus hits the mine site. He expressed hope the our host community will continue to cooperate with us in our program.

Mario Codisar, a teacher at the Siocon National High School – Canatuan Annex, expressed his appreciate for the company’s anti-A(H1N1) drive. He says parents and teachers are now in a better position to keep children under their care from the harmful virus.

For his part, Jefril Simbawan, a Grade 6 pupil at the Canatuan Elementary School, thanked me personally, saying he is glad the company went out of its way to explain details about the disease and its prevention.

I have learned to love Canatuan. Its fog-covered valleys, the sound of cicadas and the cool mountain breeze never fail to sooth my tired body after a long tiring day keeping the people here healthy and safe from diseases.

(Dr. Silorio completed his pre-med schooling at Western Mindanao University in Zamboanga City and acquired his Doctor of Medicine degree at the Ateneo de Zamboanga University.   Before joining TVIRD, he worked at the Sibugay Provincial Health Office for ten years.  He and his wife Janet, a dentist, have three children.   He always starts the day at the TVIRD Clinic with a prayer, together with his medical staff.)