Dr. Thelma Navarrete-Clemente, MHA, FPCHA is the founder of the Capitol medical Center, a 300 bed fully equipped hospital in Quezon City. She used to operate a 10 bed maternity hospital, the Holy Family Maternity Clinic, in Tondo, Manila spanning a period of 27 years. From the simple maternity, CMC now have as affiliates the CMC Diagnostics, Inc. and the Capitol Medical Center Colleges.

 

She carries with her a string of recognition and awards due to her passion in helping her fellowmen, especially anything that has to do with the medical industry. As far back as 1987, she worked hand in hand with the United States Public Health Service in introducing to hospitals the need for them to come up with her Vision - Mission statements.

Dr. Clemente was a Past President of the Philippine Hospital Association for 12 terms. She was elevated to president Emeritus of the organization in 1997. She was elected as the First Woman President of the prestigious international organization, the Asian Hospital Federation (AHF).

She was also the first woman doctor in the DBP Board. In her capacity, she helped in providing assistance to some 50 primary hospitals that were up for foreclosure. She was also given several prestigious awards that stand as testaments to her hard work: The "2003 Outstanding Citizen of Quezon City", "Ten Outstanding Women for Medicine in 1968", "Achiever Award for Doctors 1978", "Community Service Award 1981", "Gintong Ina / Ulirang Ina Award in Medicine 1991", "UPAA Most Outstanding Alumni in Medicine 1981" and "UPAA Most Distinguished Life Time Service Award 2005".

Dr. Clemente graduated from the University of the Philippines and passed the Board of medicine as 11th placer. She was a resident in OB-GYN at the North General Hospital for three years. She took up Post Graduate Residency in OB at the Margaret Hague Maternity Hospital and Gyne at the Jersey City Medical Center, New Jersey USA. Dr. Clemente took her Masters Degree in Hospital Administration at the IHF Course for Senior Hospital Managers in London, United Kingdom. (PHILIPPINE HOSPITAL ASSOCIATION)

 

What is it like to be with women in labor, day after day? "BABY OUT!" . . this is the famous line that a nurse will utter upon witnessing a birth. Every woman who had a child birth can vividly recall her experiences. She can describe every detail with matching facial expressions, from the physical and emotional changes, to bearing down with anguish and pain and lastly, the feeling of being complete upon seeing the baby for the very first time. Numerous articles and write ups have been published on birth experiences of first time mothers but what about the experiences of the labor and delivery room nurse who is a birth partner everyday as this is an integral role of the profession?

 

Witnessing the miracle of birth can be an amazing and joyous occasion and a Delivery Room (DR) Nurse is privileged to be part of such experience. As a DR Nurse, I consider it a gift to be part of another woman’s delivery process, a phase of life when the mother is most vulnerable. It is a time when her patience, strength and courage are often tested. It is not always easy to be open-minded when dealing with expectant mothers from all walks of life especially those who are here for the first time. We have to keep in mind that they are in the hospital to have their babies born and our team is entrusted to assist them go through the process. It is a silent dogma for everybody in the Delivery Room to treat every woman with respect and dignity. We should always remember that such respect should emanate from the principle that a woman is God’s instrument to pro creation of mankind.

My skills as a Nurse helps me understand an expectant mother’s situation, where she is coming from, what her strengths and weakness may be and most of all, how I can be of help to her as she encounters a very beautiful experience that is of childbirth. Aside from the technical skills that I have developed, I can also do some comforting measures to ease the pain of labor. In these times, it is imperative for us to understand the need for touch and find a way to comfort them. Hearing a newborn baby cry creates a brand new hope in our hearts and no matter how tired and weary I am, there is always a feeling of relief and success. I feel the satisfaction a woman feels for having successfully crossed over into motherhood.

At the end of my shift, I feel so blessed having witnessed another mystery in childbirth with renewed hope and spirituality.

The Department of Health (DOH) as the agency concerned with health during disaster and emergencies today organized the signing of the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) renewing the multi-sectoral collaboration in responding to emergencies and disasters. Under the agreement, the DOH is mandated to be responsible for national health emergency management.

In the MOA signing, Undersecretary Teodoro J. Herbosa representing Health Secretary Enrique T Ona, were joined by officials of different government agencies namely the Department of National Defense (DND), Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Department of Transportation and Communication (DOTC), Department of Education (DepEd), Department of Justice (DOJ) and Department of Science and Technology (DOST).

Other institutions such as the University of the Philippines-Manila, Philippine Medical Association, Philippine Hospital Association, Philippine Red Cross and the Philippine Society of Sanitary Engineers, Inc also took part in the activity. This year's new members include the Philippine League of Government & Private Midwives and the Philippine Nurses Association.

Based on the Memorandum of Agreement, the DOH is tasked with organizing and coordinating the health sector’s efforts in health emergency preparedness and response; developing protocols, guidelines and standards to have a more efficient and effective response to emergencies and disasters; and assisting the local government units in systems development to effectively manage health concerns during emergencies and disasters."It is important to collaborate with other agencies to come up with a coordinated response and integrate the delivery of services," Ona said.

In 2001, the stakeholders were organized by the DOH - Health Emergency Management Staff (HEMS). The group was initially composed of 11 members from various government and non-government agencies and a number of private institutions. One of the commitments of the stakeholders was to share resources in responding to emergencies and disasters.

As the country has been hit recently by disasters, the DOH urges different stakeholders to renew their commitment and strengthen their efforts in fulfilling the health sector’s mandate of protecting health and safety in extreme situations.

"There is nothing more precious than saving lives and responding timely to all forms of health threats during emergencies and disasters. We cannot afford to be complacent and we have to be prepared because by working together, we can make a difference," Ona concluded.....(DOH WEBSITE..DOH BULLETIN)