DaMDamin: A collaboration between RGL Hub and PFEH

The Dr Rosita G Leong (RGL) Primary Healthcare Hub initiated the DaMDamin program, a 10-day rural and community medicine immersion program for medical students and young physicians. First piloted in Siargao in 2023, DaMDamin offers participants a unique opportunity to engage with local primary healthcare systems through hands-on experiences and mentorship. This program is designed to develop future health leaders who are equipped to contribute to the achievement of Universal Health Care (UHC) in the country.

This year, the program's impact is amplified through the support of the Philippine Foundation for Equity in Health (PFEH), enabling the RGL Hub to expand the 2024 program to 2 cohorts, accommodating 30 participants not only from ASMPH, but also from the University of the Philippines, Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila and Metropolitan Medical Center. Through the graciousness of the Provincial Government and Health Office of Northern Samar, the students were assigned to different Rural Health Units (RHU) for 5 days (Catarman, Bobon, San Roque, Gamay, Palapag and San Antonio) and then to partner hospitals (Northern Samar Provincial Hospital, and GB Tan Memorial Hospital) for the next 5 days.

Program Structure and Activities

The DaMDamin program encompasses a series of immersive activities aimed at deepening participants' understanding of local health systems and the challenges of health inequity. Students undergo an intensive 3-day pre-deployment seminar to strengthen their foundational knowledge of primary care principles and the Philippine healthcare system. Here the students were able to interact with various luminaries in Philippine Healthcare such as former Secretary of Health Dr Manolet Dayrit, and former assistant secretary of health, Dr Beverly Ho. Next, Ms Algin Gultia, social and behavior change specialist, equipped the students with interpersonal communications skills and techniques to prepare the students for their various community interactions and engagements. Additionally, the students were mentored by the Medical City’s Family Medicine Department, who provided the students the technical expertise on Community-Oriented Primary Care. Furthermore, various ASMPH alumni and previous Doctors-to-the-Barrios (DTTBs) shared their stories and experiences during their deployment, giving the students a glimpse of the healthcare system from various points-of-view.

Upon arriving in Northern Samar and further getting deployed to their assigned RHUs and hospitals, they experienced in real-time the building blocks of health care: Health Information Systems, Workforce, Access to Medicines, Service Delivery, Financing, and Leadership. Here they got to discover abundant issues and problems plaguing the various RHUs at the grassroots level.

Impact and Future Aspirations

The DaMDamin program proved to be a transformative journey for both the volunteers and the communities they served. At the post-event activity, students shared their heartfelt thoughts and experiences with the group. Many were moved to tears as they recounted the struggles Filipinos face in accessing basic healthcare. They spoke passionately about the patients they met, whose resilience in this adversity left a mark in their hearts. During those 10 days, they wrestled with the stark inequities in the healthcare system, questioning why health equity is so difficult to achieve.

Upon returning to Manila, the contrast was even more jarring. They grappled with the unfairness of how easily they could access medical services, while the patients they left behind in Northern Samar continued to struggle. This realization sparked a profound sense of responsibility and urgency to advocate for change. And with this program, they found hope in knowing that they were not alone; they discovered that there are people like them with the same passion for achieving health equity.

Students from other schools were even more grateful because this program opened up this year not only for ASMPH students. For many, it was a life-changing opportunity that broadened their perspectives and deepened their commitment to serving underserved communities. The sense of solidarity and shared purpose among the participants was palpable, forging bonds that would inspire collaborative efforts long after the program concluded.

Thanks to the ongoing support of the RGL Hub, the DaMDamin program continues to thrive, making a significant impact on the volunteers, LGUs, and communities involved. The program exemplifies the RGL Hub's dedication to making equitable health for all a reality, fostering a new generation of health leaders passionate about primary care and community health.

About the Dr Rosita G Leong Primary Healthcare Hub

The mission of the Dr Rosita G Leong Primary Healthcare Hub is to empower primary healthcare providers, allied medical professionals, and other stakeholders to build a robust Primary Health Care system that ensures equitable health for all Filipinos. It is a cornerstone of Ateneo de Manila University's Lux-In-Domino 2030, a strategic plan aiming to position the university as a leader in social transformation through education, formation, research, and community engagement.

To know more about RGL programs or to find out how you can help, please email: rglhub@ateneo.edu