BAGAC, Bataan – She looks like a college student with a ready smile. But no, she is the 28-year-old Municipal Health Officer of this picturesque mountain town adjacent to the West Philippines Sea.
Dr. Ann Ysabel Gonzales was a scholar at the Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila. She is young but with a purpose.
She wants to serve the least fortunate joining the Doctor to the Barrio Program after passing the Board Exam for Physicians.
She smiles a lot putting her patients at ease and talking with them like an old acquaintance. After 10 months of serving the municipal health office of Morong, another Bataan municipality near the former South China Sea, she was assigned in Bagac starting November, 2013.
She observed that the common ailments in Bagac especially are cough and cold, fever and loose bowel movement.
She was happy to announce that there was no dengue case for the last three months and neither were there for measles and typhoid. The young doctor said the health center has supply of medicines for those seeking medical consultations. These are supplied by the Department of Health and the Bagac municipal government under Mayor Ramil del Rosario.
She is thankful for having a very supportive mayor and municipal administrator in the person of Nick Ancheta, making her task of looking after the health needs of the villagers easy. She, however, wanted more stock of medicines for easy reach of the common folk.
Gonzales obliged to share her thoughts on legalizing marijuana for medical purpose and the use of herbal medicines. On marijuana, she said that it should be under strict control and with proper prescription.
“Hindi pwede ang over the counter. It should not be abused,” she said. About the use of herbal medicines, Gonzales has no objection but should be on doctor’s advice. “Kung gusto ng pasyente at bumubuti ang kalagayan at pakiramdam niya, why not, pero huwag kalimutan ang doctor’s side,” she said.
She considers herbal medicines as mere supplement. “Hindi ito pamalit sa talagang gamot na may scientific basis.”
