Community and Beyond

Community medicine is not a sought after part of the medical curriculum for our group. I do not know for others. Whenever it is time for us to return to our community, we are not that excited. We just want to bargain time in order to escape the reality that community medicine is knocking our doors. If we have can just stop the time, we already have done it.

However, as time goes by, community medicine is changing our worlds. The realization has changed our views in life. Now, we have understood the value of this exposure. It should always be a part of every medical student. It is a way to impart our knowledge and skills to the people. An experience that not everyone would appreciate until an opportunity will let you stay in the same community for a long period of time. A learning experience that an urban world cannot teach us but the rural world has always a way in teaching us lessons in life.

Community is also a way to recuperate our tired mind and body from our 6 months clerkship experience. Well, clerkship is a fulfilling one for some and a challenging one for others. No one can change that for sure. But one thing is for sure, whether it is up or down, it is worth it. Evidence showed during our first month of stay in the community. Clerkship is always a topic in our discussions. Bloopers, flaws, faults, residents, nurses, meals at dawn and even, utility workers are always a part of our bonding moments. Looking back to our past 6 months, those experiences are our powerful tool that will aid us during our stay in the community. Deliveries, suturing, cough, back pain, increase BP are some of the complaint of the community people.

We, the medical students, can teach and change the views of the community people in terms of their health. It is a challenge that needs a lot of guts and determination in order to convince these people that we are here for a good reason. A reason that is not just our ticket to fulfil our community medicine requirements but seeing these people care about their health and the health of others is such a big accomplishment for the group.

As we try to make health impacts among their lives, the community also made a great impact with ours. We have survived not watching a television program for a month. Another thing is, we have survive at least an hour or two without using internet to check Facebook, Instagram and etc. here, people who does not know how to cook, now knows how to cook not only fried food but a recipe worth trying for. From the world that has full of back-up or help, we have learnt how to survive by trusting each other, the community people and its resources itself.

Change is the only constant in the world.