Criticism, Feedback, and Solutions: For a Better Calumpit District Hospital’s Health Facilities and Medical Workers [FINAL REPORT]
The majority of unaddressed issues are fundamental demands that would benefit citizens and the community itself. Some might argue that the previous administration did not perform effectively by refusing to recognize some of the issues within the community. Thus, everyone is given the right to vote for the person they believe is most deserving of the position. Following the conclusion of the election season, newly elected or re-elected politicians will begin their terms on July 1. And citizens want them to fulfill their platforms now that they have won the election, as they have pledged.
In the municipality of Calumpit, stable hospitals and medical facilities are the main need of the Calumpiteños, especially in the midst of pandemic. Despite the fact that the municipality is fortunate to have a hospital, it didn’t meet the objectives. The piles of complaints regarding the district hospital are already proof of its failure. On top of that is the lack of medical equipment and supplies, to be followed by a constraint or restriction, such as the hospital being primarily available for maternity services.
The issue has been opened up since the new mayor of the Calumpit, Lem Faustino, included the District Hospital in one of her platforms. But the conflicts over the Calumpit District Hospital is occurring even before she chose to run for mayor. And because she brought up the subject, some of the Calumpiteños took an interest in it and searched further into it.
To fulfill the projected proposal, I searched for the respondents within the Calumpit to formally address the topic. A total of eight youths agreed to participate in the interview, while a new-elect counselor and a barangay councilor accepted the invitation to discuss the issue in Calumpit, including the district hospital.
As there will be a new administration on July 1, a set of questions for citizens focuses on their opinions, criticisms, or suggestions for the Calumpit District Hospital. Meanwhile, the officials are interrogated about their observations in Calumpit, and how they would employ their role to deal with the challenges and forthcoming projects for the betterment of the community.
Full Interview:
with new-elect Kons. Maureen Torres:
with Kons. Joel Tulod:
For the first segment of the interview, the ordinary citizens (of whom are youths) were asked the following questions:
Have you ever been to the Calumpit District Hospital?
From a scale of 1 to 10, rate the Calumpit District Hospital.
Any feedback/comments about it?
Now that the elected officials will be taking over the position, what are your expectations to them?
The set of questions for the local government officials in the second half of the interview is subtly different. The basis for the questions is as described in the following:
What are their insights or observations on the situation in Calumpit, particularly at Calumpit District Hospital?
How would they deal with the problems at Calumpit, including the Calumpit District Hospital?
What will they do to earn Calumpiteos' trust in their pledges, commitments, and responsibilities for the community’s sake?
What should residents anticipate from them as they carry out their duties in the local government?
As they responded to the questions, some of them stated the problem and criticisms according to their observation. In spite of the differences in their responses, they all come to the same conclusion. They believe that the hospital lacks medical equipment and rooms that patients mostly need. If the hospital can't accommodate patients, they will refer them to other facilities or private hospitals. Lastly, the services there do not meet the satisfaction of the patients, especially the ordinary citizens who are in demand of better medical or health care. Regardless of the flaws of the Calumpit District Hospital, the government should allot funds for its improvements, as one of the interviewees pointed out.
The two officials I interviewed expressed similar concerns about the Calumpit District Hospital's circumstances. The newly elected councilor, Kons. Maureen Torres stated that the hospital is overburdened and primarily prioritizes maternity surgeries and minor assistance. She also acknowledged that, despite having a district hospital, the quality of healthcare services in the community is poor. Councilor Joel Tulod also has a similar observation. He said that the Calumpit had no improvement and that the people within the municipality are struggling to keep up.
Respondents in the interview give their messages to the newly elected leaders who will take office on July 1. They hoped that elected leaders will keep every promise they made during the election campaign, particularly those platforms that addressed citizens' concerns.
Kons. Maureen Torres guarantees that as soon as their term begins, they would start to accomplish their commitments, including the Calumpit District Hospital which is a priority project of newly elected mayor Lem Faustino. On the other hand, Kons. Joel Tulod is confident that the new administration will carry through on its promises and will be the primary motivation behind the desired change. As he emphasized, we should support the newly elected leader to show her visions and dedication to serving the community.
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