Ever Mary Joy S.

Escalera

“Kwento ni Rosario”
Ang “Kwento ni Rosario” is a short film representing to us the health situation in
other parts of the Philippines. It emphasizes that health in a person is affected by different
factors.
I disagree with certain actions of the healthcare workers in the film. Specifically, I
disagree on the physician who advised Lucy to not breastfeed her child and told her to
use formula milk instead. However, formula milk is expensive thus Lucy settled on
condensed milk because it was cheaper and because of this, all her children are
malnourished. EO No. 51 National Code of Marketing of Breastmilk substitutes calls for
intensifying dissemination of information on breastfeeding and proper nutrition and it
prohibits the use of health facilities and health workers in the promotion and marketing of
products covered by the code. The physician should have been aware of how important
breastfeeding is and should have been able to educate the family and Lucy on proper
nutrition of the children. Aside from that, I also disagree on the medicines prescribed to
Lucy which were very expensive. RA 9502 aka Generic Act, an act providing cheaper and
quality medicines for Filipino people should have been followed on this case. Prescribing
medications to patients do not only consider the drug’s action but also considers the
financial stability of the patient.
I also disagree on Lucy’s thinking that worms were a good sign and that they aided
in the digestion. Considering that she only finished high school and she was not
knowledgeable on proper nutrition, government programs should focus on educating
communities such as Tanyong.
The short film opened my mind to the health situation in the country. I know that
there are several families in the Philippines in the lower income bracket, but I never
imagined their health situation to be in a worst-case scenario such as this film. Social
determinants of health are the non-medical factors that influence health outcomes which
was emphasize in the film. The social determinants of health have an important influence
on health inequities which is the unfair and avoidable difference in health status seen
within and between countries. In countries such as the Philippines, health and illness
follow a social gradient where those in the lower socioeconomic position, the worse the
health.
In the film, I specifically do not understand the actions of the healthcare workers. I
can understand the insufficiency of the health budget in the health center due to the
misused of funds by the municipal health officer and by the mayor because it is innate in
the government officials to be corrupt although it is not a good thing. However, the lack
of understanding by the healthcare workers to the financial situation of the family makes
me question their ethical principles. I may have wasted my medical education, but I surely
will not do the same management such as these healthcare workers to my future patients.
What I liked most about the film is that it is very realistic, showing the reality of how
people living in poverty have poor housing conditions, living in crowded areas with
increased risk of acquiring communicable diseases; scarce water supply, unsanitary toilet
facilities that increase the risk of acquiring infectious diseases and less access to health
care. It showed the problem of malnutrition among the poor and lack of education, which
can negatively impact health and can even result to mortality, like what happened to
Rosario. I like the fact that it reminded us on a pervasive problem in the society, which is
poverty and that we can certainly take note from the movie that public health should be
geared more towards helping the poor overcome the hindrances to having a healthy life,
from finding solutions to help improve their nutritional status to helping them access
quality health care and strengthening campaigns of public health education.
In the film, I disliked the most the current health situation of the country and how
some people would add burden to the current problems, for example the government
officials and the selfishness of the doctor.
The film realistically portrayed the pressing issue of the country which is poverty
and how it limits the access to health care. It also portrayed that there are lapses in the
health care system and there is corruption going on in the government. These factors
contribute to the health situation in the country. Addressing these factors appropriately is
fundamental for improving health and reducing longstanding inequities in health which
requires action by all sectors and civil society.
The corrupt officials and the healthcare worker were a disappointment. The
government officials should be true to their oath and be a better citizen in the country. If
it weren’t for their corruption, communities such as Tanyong and families of Rosario would
have been able to access better healthcare and they wouldn’t have to resort to private
hospitals where there are expensive fees that they can’t afford. The doctor who advised
formula milk should have been a professional and showed empathy to the family. He
should have been holistic in the management of the patient.
Income and social protection, education, unemployment, and job insecurity,
working life conditions, food insecurity, housing, basic amenities and environment, early
childhood development, and access to affordable health services of decent quality are
examples of social determinants which can influence health. The film was very similar to
the situation in the Philippines where social determinants of health were not addressed
thus increasing the mortality in families of lower income bracket.