MY SPEECH call to arms Leader Elizabeth Anne Medina

MY SPEECH ( Leader Elizabeth Anne Medina)

Greetings to each and every one of you, Professor Jorge Saguinsin, my fellow Atenean leaders.  I stand before all of you to deliver a speech that is close to my heart, it speaks volumes of my love for children, my passion to reach out to people, every single patient at a time, to be of service and to be a leader in the simplest way that I can.  The calling to be able to help and reach out is strong and my goal is to make a difference.

Each night I kiss my children and put them to sleep, I whisper in their ears and I dream of all the best things in life for them.  I dream of a better world for them to live in and of course I always pray for good health in our family.  I believe that a person relies on

their health for obvious reasons.  A person who is ailing, sick cannot concentrate on the tasks that are presented to them.  The emotional, physical and mental stress that we feel when we are sick, the pains and aches that are brought about even just by the common flu.  I wouldn't want to face Health scares that can make me lose sleep and my sanity that is why I firmly believe that Good health care is essential to each and every Filipino.

Most of us here are in the prime of our lives, we are banking on waking up every single day with vigor, vitality to do our daily work.  We are relying on our strength, our physical ability as well to perform all the tasks that are set for us each and every single day.  As leaders a lot of people depend on us, we have our families, our bosses, our employees or co- workers.  In the event that we get sick which usually happens suddenly without our knowledge, the people who rely on us would have difficulty as well and we become helpless.   A leader has foresight and plans ahead and has ingenuity, thus my advocacy and passion is to change our current Health care system and to emphasize the importance of putting great importance to one's health.

 We would always hear the saying that an ounce of Prevention is worth more than a pound of cure" and I believe this is true.  As a pediatrician, I am blessed to see babies born and in my care from Day 0, and I always stress to mothers the importance of breastfeeding, proper hygiene, newborn care and vaccinations. All of these are important because they would strengthen the immunity of their babies, I believe that happy babies make very happy mommies.  As a mother I know this very well, I am happiest when I see my children run about and  play and when they become sick I would become the worried mother than the knowledgeable doctor that is why I empathize with my patient's mothers.   It is our obligation as well to take good care of ourselves, the need for proper nutrition, eating right  and regular exercise is quite challenging even to us doctors who know all the benefits.  I am hopeful that I can take a big step to better health.  Success occurs when your dreams are bigger than your excuses.

In a bigger setting let us take a look at our country The Philippines. It is blessed with natural resources that are not being used to our advantage.    We are reaching progress in different aspects, there are numerous growths in our real estate ( buildings are sprouting left and right, malls are a dime a dozen), however a lot of the aspects that matter are clearly left behind, education, mass transportation and my advocacy which is lagging behind in terms of progress, our health sector.  The WHO data in the philippines last 2013 says that only 4% of our  county's GDP goes to the health care sector, and there are 3 million lives that are saved by immunization in our country but sadly millions still do not have access and die.   Some people might react to this especially those in the government and say that a lot is being done to improve the health sector but I know that it is not enough.   The sad plight of our government hospitals is known to all.  The rooms are spilling with patients, there are not enough medical personnel, equipment are not complete at times and medicine is not all free.  I am dreaming of a better and improved medical service that will cater to all our countrymen especially our indigent brothers and sisters.

  I have seen it and experienced patients opting not to continue with their medications, not getting the proper treatment, preterm babies , sick children whose lives are cut short because the parents could not sustain the cost of treatment.  We can only do so much as doctors, frustration sets in, emotions take a toll on me sometimes but I believe that good quality health care that is within the reach of the masses can be achieved and change can still happen.

I am just one leader but together each and everyone of us can make a difference.  As a doctor we are destined to be a servant leader, there are numerous times when we are called upon to help through our gift of healing and wisdom,  compensation at times cannot be given, in the end the small things matter and the sheer joy of seeing my patient healed and recover is so rewarding.  We are not in the perfect world where everything is free but in my lifetime I do hope we will get to experience a country that will provide the health care that all of us deserve and that the mortalities that people face because of financial constraints will be lessened. 

Let me quote Mahatma Gandhi , "It is health that is real wealth and not pieces of gold and silver", May we be truly rich in health and Nurture our future.

Thank you.