DOH brings health services

To ‘Ati tribe’ in IP Caravan

TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol, July 6 (PIA)—Families of the surviving Ati tribe of Calvario and Botoc in Loay got comprehensive medical and dental services from the Department of Health (DOH) as the government sent to the town a team of doctors, dentists, nurses and health advocates for the 2024 Indigenous People’s (IP) Caravan of Health Services, July 3.

The tribe, which initially migrated with just 10 families to Bohol from Panay island in the 1970, has finally laid claims to small patches of land in Loay, after the government helped them settle from their nomadic and foraging tribal life.

Left to their own as their culture dictates them, the Ati soon found that Bohol indeed is a good place to stay, having lost their lands to plantations in Panay Island.

But still bound to their culture, the Ati, although not technically from Bohol, has the National Commission on Indigenous People (NCIP) documenting them for possible accreditation as another IP in Bohol and deserves the government help as incorporated in the rights of indigenous peoples’ law.

While the local government of Loay and its Rural Health Unit supplies some of the medical needs that the Ati face, the LGU simply can not respond to all their needs, noting that these may not be easily available to the LGU, shares DOH IP focal person Dr. Deab Eltanal.

As much as possible, we want to do this yearly, he added.

Part of the annual DOH services of the IP communities, the IP Caravan of Health Services brings in free vital signs, medical check-up, dental extraction and check-up, blood sugar testing, kids vaccination, operation timbang, pre natal services, x ray and even blood donation advocacy and health promotions, suited for the community, said the head of DOH Health Systems Development Sector, Dr. Nelner Omus.

A caravan of integrated services, the caravan also intends to integrate modern health into the Ati culture, not the ones that contradict their health practices but that which sustains them, adds Dr Eltanal.

DOH brought in 3 doctors plus the RHO, 2 regional dentists and 5 from DOH deployment plus the local volunteers put up by the LGU Loay under Mayor and Atty. Hilario Ayuban.

On their part, Ati Calvario tribal chieftain Carlos Besida, who brings in his settlement’s 60 families said the caravan helped a lot in our issues against fever, colds, cough, the caravan brought it free medicines, antibiotics.

Atis, according to him still opt for herbal medicines when they encounter illnesses: rubbing crumpled medicinal leaves, putting on pounded roots, bark or flowers.

Another Ati IP leader Wilma Pauden, 63, thanked the DOH, as this, according to her can allow them: ati leaders to determine which houses need intervention or education so they can integrate health education into the local culture. (PIABohol)

DENTAL SERVICES. DOH brings to Loay its dental services, which include teaching the tribe dental hygiene, care of the gums and extended to dental extraction. Loay, where the Atis now live, has no public dentist and the service slowly prepares the community to getting mainstream health services. (PIABohol)

MAINSTREAMING HEALTH SERVICES. With the indigenous people always left out of government services owing to their settlement’s remote locations, the DOH has made it a promise to get annual services to these communities, whose and health cultural practices need to be integrated with the science of medicine. (PIABOhol)