Benguet Physicians Attend Healthy Lifestyle Training at Kochi Prefecture , Japan

Six (6) Municipal Health Officers (MHO) and the Provincial Health Officer (PHO) I� all from Benguet Province completed a training on Local Health� System focusing on� lifestyle related diseases in Kochi prefecture in Japan last Oct 22 to 28, 2008. The participants were Dr. Norma Pacalso, the PHO I; Dr. Hilda Kimakim, the MHO of Buguias; Dr. Oliver Guada�a, the MHO of Itogon; Dr. Felix Mangaltag, Jr., the MHO of Kabayan; Dr. Lillian Marie Laruan, the MHO of Kapangan; Dr. Lorigrace Austria, the MHO of Tuba; and Dr. Marcela Tinoyan, the MHO of Tublay.

The trainees had a whirlwind 15 days of training that was hectic and tiring yet enjoyable, fulfilling and enriching. During the first week, they were billeted at the Tokyo International Center where they were oriented on the culture of the Japanese and had visited JICA headquarters where they presented the achievements of the project. To experience Japanese hospitality, they spent a fun-filled night at JICA Expert Makoto Tobe�s house at Funabashi City in Chiba.

The following week was solely spent in Kochi Prefecture learning its health system. They were enlightened on Kochi City�s health policies and appreciated the Prefecture�s goal of becoming �Japan�s healthiest, longest lived prefecture.� Thus, they promote exercise and anti-smoking measures; conduct medical check-ups and health guidance, encourage spiritual health and improvement of nutrition and diet, and promote dental health as embodied in their �Yosakai Health Plan 21.� The trainees were astounded about the very comprehensive and mandatory health insurance system. In Suzaki City, they gained knowledge on the activities of the city�s Health and Welfare Center while in Yusuhara town they came to appreciate how health care is implemented in a rural setting.

Self-breast examination! Umhhh...

A tour around the health facilities amazed the trainees at how focused and unique the health system of Japan is in caring for their elderly. They observed an on-going health session on the proper technique of conducting self-breast examination among female elderly citizens, and an actual physical therapy using technologically advanced exercise machines complete with a swimming pool for rehabilitation. One defining moment was when they actually saw an ambulance replete with the latest medical equipment manned by an impressive paramedical worker.

Back once more in Kochi City, the trainees attended a National Convention of diet promoters that discussed the merits of a healthy diet and learned the health promotion policies at the Kochi Health Promotion Department.

Consequently, they had fun joining the exercise session of a small cohesive group of elderly residents. They toured the enormous, sophisticated, and technologically advanced Kochi Medical Center (a picture shown above) during their last day in the city. A tertiary institution, its architecture is fashioned to deliver efficient and effective specialized medical care. Despite that, green-aproned community volunteers abound to assist in it upkeep.

Their last Sunday, Oct. 25 was a wet morning spent exploring the heritage sites at Kyoto and discovering Japan�s historical and colorful past.

Needless to say the trip was very fruitful and enriching. They were grateful to Mr. Makoto Tobe and Ms. Mariko Takagi who translated, guided, ordered their meals, took care of their accommodations, answered their innumerable queries, and explained a hundred and one things. This included a lot of people and to JICA for sponsoring their expensive training to the land of the rising sun. In turn, the trainees brought home not only unforgettable memories but more importantly an action plan to replicate relevant and new strategies of implementing health programs in their respective localities. Truly, it had been one amazing, awesome, impressive, complicated, and inspiring Japanese adventure.