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These doctors were housed in
urban areas but transported in the cover of the night to secured
areas. Today the level of insurgency and the campaign against
it has decreased but the need for proper health measures and
therefore the need for health practitioners has grown. Several
consultations have been done by HELP for Peace with the people
afflicted by conflict. Many children are oblivious of the
on-going conflict even continuing with play even when gunshots
and mortar sounds pierce through the otherwise quiet mountain.
The numbness to the situation and the scars that live in their
memories are pervasive
Surveys were made around conflict-torn communities. The close-knit
structure of the Filipino family is still evident but with
the little knowledge they have of disease transmission diseases
are spread unknowingly. For example, many children complained
of swelling in their cheeks. Some have blue powder painted
over it as prescribed by traditional healers. Many simple
measures could have been done to prevent its spread or at
least allay symptoms. HELP for Peace provided initial consultation,
advised regarding their illness, nutritional intervention
and hygiene. Some problems however have no immediate simple
solutions. Some are deeply rooted in the cultural values,
others are situationally complex. HELP for Peace started to
train residents on disease prevention and to educate barefoot
doctors on disease recognition, symptom alleviation, and primary
care treatment. HELP for Peace recognize the inherent richness
of tradition and values of the residents and healers that
its preservation is considered important. Preliminary observations
and discussions with the traditional healers have been made.
HELP for Peace documents the traditional methods, the modalities
used, the herbs and minerals that are employed in the hilot's
practice.
The Barefoot Doctor concept is further inspired by the community
works of other Filipinos and organizations in the Philippines.
Sr Eva Maamo's pioneering work among the countries indigents,
economically displaced, indigenous people like the T'bolis,
Manobos, and other hill folk from the surrounding mountains
laid groundwork for the HELP for Peace's barefoot doctor program.
The available databases of organizations of the Misereor Network
are resource materials in the continuing documentation of
the herbs and minerals for healing utilized in the country.
The community is situated in
a conflict area where two rebel groups have political/ideological
and armed-conflict with each other and the government forces.
Currently, a leadership-split has occurred with the rebel
forces dominant in the area. This split puts a strain on the
existing peace pact they have with the government. Consequently,
this has a significant impact on the humanitarian actionconducted
in the area. Nevertheless, HELP for Peace, as a respected,
humanitarian actor, continues its engagement with the communities.
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