Diagnosing Sickness and Fear in Guihulngan

Fifteen doctors who recently joined a humanitarian mission in Guihulngan, Negros Oriental shared that many of the residents’ diseases have been caused by fear of gun toting soldiers roaming their villages.

BY RONALYN V. OLEA
HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH
Bulatlat

Fifteen doctors who recently joined a humanitarian mission in Guihulngan, Negros Oriental shared their observation that many of the residents’ diseases have been caused by fear of gun toting soldiers roaming their villages.

Doctor Merry Mia, director of the Health and Training Services Department of the Council for Health and Development (CHD), disclosed this in a lugawan (porridge) –forum for the benefit of Guihulngan residents held at the St. Scholastica’s College, Sept. 23.

Mia was among the 70-member Negros Mercy Mission who went to the said province from Sept. 12 to 15. The mission attended to 1,035 patients from 12 barangays (villages)- Trinidad, Binobohan, Mani-ak, Sandayao, Kalupaan, Tacpao, Hilaitan, Banwage, Balogo, Linantuyan, Plogastasano, and Imelda.

The mission, split into three clusters, administered medical consultations, pre-natal checkups, minor surgeries (cyst extraction, circumcision), dental services and psycho-social counseling.

Mia said, “It is a common observation by doctors that patients with hypertension, hyperacidity, muscle pains, headache and insomnia were also those who expressed fear of government troops.”

She said that one of the pronounced cases in the counseling activities includes fear of being shot by military men who fire their guns indiscriminately within residential areas. These incidents occurred at Barangays Trinidad, Imelda and Banwague.

High stress levels

Mia noted that those who live near military detachments have high stress levels. “They have difficulty sleeping and are afraid to go through their daily activities,” she said.

Residents interviewed by the mission’s volunteers related that the soldiers would fire their guns around 2 a.m. or 3 a.m. almost daily. The soldiers always say that they had an encounter with the rebels. The residents, however, said there have been no exchanges of fire.

Mia said the residents’ movements have been restricted. “The military has imposed a curfew. Every morning, the soldiers would check all the residents. These have hampered the people’s activities and livelihood.”

Another doctor, Edelina dela Paz, vice chairperson of Health Alliance for Human Rights (HAHR), cited the case of a pregnant woman from Bgy. Linantuyan. She said soldiers pointed a gun at the poor woman.

“The fear in her mind can affect her baby,” said dela Paz. She said it was good the woman is strong enough.

Dela Paz underscored the importance of psycho-social counseling in areas like these. “You have to make them ventilate their fears. The military aims to intimidate the people so that the people won’t say anything any more,” she said.

Other patients complained of cough and colds, epigastric pain, musculoskeletal pains and upper respiratory tract infection.

She said that the nearest health center has no doctor and no medicines. “There was no health education among the people, too.”

Mia said the Franciscan Mountain Clinics in Bgy. Trinidad and Banwage have been frequently visited by soldiers. “People are afraid to go to these alternative health clinics because of the military.”

Securing the area?

In fact, Mia said that during the first day of the mission, nine soldiers from the 11th Infantry Battalion attempted to enter the premises of the Franciscan Mountain Clinic in Kalabaklabakan, Brgy. Trinidad.

When physician Mark Chito Molina, member of the Health Alliance for Democracy –Cebu chapter, Cynthia Vargas of the CHD and Amy Tapales, staff of the Franciscan Mountain Clinic prevented the military from entering the clinic premises, Lt. Jade Cañete, commander of the unit, insisted that they have to get in to “secure the area.”