Highlighting the weeklong celebration of the Hospital Week was a first-ever solidarity cultural night held at the Multi-Purpose Building, Bontoc, Mountain Province on September 19, 2019 which came with a theme, “Fostering Cultural Sensitivity through Gaggag-ay for Health: Hospital Edition.”
The activity was participated in by the Provincial Health Office, Besao District Hospital, Bontoc General Hospital, St. Theodore’s Hospital and Anastacia Sagel Rafael Memorial Hospital.
The activity was aimed to provide a chance for all participants to get to know one another better and their attached responsibilities in their own organizations.
After the introductory process for all the delegates, a cultural presentation by each group ensued.
In her welcome remarks, Provincial Health Officer Dr. Nenita D. Lizardo articulated that this year’s Hospital Week celebration also pioneered a conduct of solidarity night for all hospitals in the province which she said was also conceptualized as a sort of culminating activity. She further expressed her utmost gratitude to the participating hospitals for their support and cooperation for the activity.
Also, according to her, nurturing cultural understanding among health workers has a deep impact towards a healthy community.
“We at the PHO are very happy with everyone’s cooperation which led to the success of this event. It is my desire that our bond as health providers will grow stronger which will result in better delivery of health services,” she said.
In the governor’s message which was relayed by Provincial Administrator Amador P. Batay-an, he commended everybody for coming up with such activity and with a theme that is timely and fitting to address what is sadly happening in most workplaces nowadays – division/ factions. According to him, the human tendency of selfishness often results in disrespect for authorities and/or for colleagues who have their own mandates to perform, duties/responsibilities and rights, too, in their respective work areas or organizations.
“May I reiterate that cultural sensitivity is mainly respecting boundaries. Sensitivity is being cognizant that individuals and organizations have their own unique operating systems that are meant to address their respective clients. Sensitivity is respecting mechanisms that are in place in an organization to facilitate processes that may be effective in others but not in others. Sensitivity is accepting that others are diverse but that still we can co-exist in a community,” he further relayed.
To recap the message of Governor Lacwasan, Batay-an used the acronym DIVERSITY – Different Individuals Valuing Each other Regardless of Skin, Intellect, Talents or Years.
Meanwhile, the chiefs of the participating hospitals were one in expressing support for the provincial undertaking to promote health in their respective messages.
“Despite every individual differences, we would like to express our unity with quality health care for a HEALTHY Mountain Province,” they all said.**Imelda U. Sawi, MP-PIO
