I was in the province the other week for some medical mission. Along with me are doctors and nurses who are volunteers for a non government organization giving medical aid to far and remote places in the country. It was a 3 hours walk to the top of the mountain to give medical aid to the municipality in that area. The road going to the place was not concrete so we need to carry some medical equipment and supplies to the place. Our service vehicle was left at the foot of the mountain.
After 3 hours of long walk, we reached the municipality that we giving medical services and aid. The location was very far that lights and portable water is nonexistent. We brought some mineral waters and food too for the mission. The chief of the town greeted us warmly and the people as well. They were amazed to see a doctor and nurses because the place is very far that no doctors can reach the place.
Immediately, I prepared the tables and opened the medicines that we brought along with us. People started to flock the medical mission venue. After completing the setup of the tables and chairs, the medical mission started immediately. I was in-charge of the medicine dispensing. After the check up, the patient will show me the doctor's note and I will release the corresponding medicine for the patient.
Here in the city, dengue patients are immediately put on dextrose to replenish the lost body fluid. Sometimes doctor's would prescribe Gatorade drink for the loss body fluid. But in the place where we did the medical mission, they have a unique way to dealing patients with dengue fever. Instead of dextrose, they boil tawa-tawa leaves and then they let the patient drink the boiled water with tawa tawa on it. Tawa Tawa grass is a common grass that we can find along the streets and we don't give any value on it. But there, they use it as medicines. Tawa tawa has undergone many medical studies to prove the medical benefits along with the grass. According to one local folk I spoke to, his son was a victim dengue fever and it nearly cause him his life. But because they are using the tawa-tawa grass, his life was spared.
Because I was so amazed with the medical benefit of the grass, I brought some sample of the boiled water with tawa-tawa so that we can examine in the laboratory. But aside from tawa-tawa, the villagers also use other medical plants for their common illnesses and it is very effective for them. One thing I learned about the medical mission is that the healing wonder of nature is still very active and we needed to look at this herbal medicines because we might find the cure for more dangerous illnesses that we have right now.
