BAGUIO CITY (PIA) – Being a health worker is physically demanding especially in bringing health care services to geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas like Barangay Mabongtot in Lubuagan, Kalinga.
For Leonida Alya-on, no distance is too far in bringing the necessary health services to her fellow Kalinga. She dedicated 30 years of service and counting to ensure that the members of the community have access to quality healthcare.
“Ti reward kenyak ket maited ko ti serbisyok kadagitoy kailiak ken uray nu marigrigatanak, naragsakak nga mang-serve iti serbisyok ditoy. Makitak nga maimbagan da ket mayat ti riknak,” Alya-on shared.
[The reward for me is giving my services to my townmates and despite the challenges, I am happy to offer my services. When I see them well, I am happy.]
Alya-on started to work as a health worker in 1998. She became a vaccinator in 2022, and a midwife for the Department of Health Human Resource for Health (Lubuagan) in 2023.
Alya-on shared that to reach Barangay Mabongtot, she needs to walk for two hours. The trek through rugged terrain may be tiring but it is worth it to bring government healthcare services closer to the community.
“Awan ti makaumay ditoy nga mangideliber ti serbisyo panggep ti immunization pati daytoy agas nga pang-hypertension. Narigat ti dalan ngem anusan garud a ta awan ti mangipan ti serbisyo ditoy. An-anusan mi ti dalan tapnu maipaay mi ti serbisyo mi ditoy barangay,” Alya-on said.
[Delivery of immunization services here including medicines for hypertension is hard. Coming here is challenging but we endure to bring services here in the barangay.]
She also monitors the patients by conducting home visits including those who have hypertension, the senior citizens, and persons with disabilities who cannot go to the clinic for checkups or consultations. This earned her the respect and admiration of those she serves.
Among her patients is Julio Maximo, 85 years old, a person with a disability. He expressed his gratitude to Alya-on for always checking on him.
A health worker’s journey is indeed challenging but it is incredibly rewarding for someone who has the heart to serve. **DEG-PIA CAR
