A CENTURY OF PUBLIC HEALTH IN THE PHILIPPINES

Public HeaIth

It aims to improve the health of communities through an

organized community effort

Pre-American Occupation

The Americans did not establish public health in a vacuum. When Spain came to introduce occidental civilization in the country, she had withal to make use of the type of hygiene and preventive medicine then understood and practiced in the Iberian peninsula. She undeliberately prepared the grounds on which the Americans later launched the public health program and it would be unpardonable to ignore her contributions. As historian E.G. Boumestated in PHILIPPINE ISLANDS 1494-1898, the Philippines and Manila in particular were ahead of other English colonies with regard to provision for the sick and invalids.

Five General Hospitals

1. The San Juan de Dios Hospital (1659)

2. Chinese General Hospital ( 1891 )

3. Hospicio de San Jose in Cavite (1611 )

4. Casa de la Caridad in Cebu

5. Infirmaries de Sta. Cruz in Laguna (i 870)

Four Contagious Hospitals

1. San Lazaro Hospital (1577)

2. Hospital de Palestina in Camarines Sur

3. Hospital de Leprosos in Cebu

4. Hospital de Argencina in Man.ila for smallpox and cholera

Two Military Hospitals

1. Hospital Militar de Manila

2. Hospital Militar de Zamboanga

Two Naval Hospitals

1. Hospital dela Marie in Canacao, Cavite

2. Hospital de Basilan in Basilan

Other Hospitalsl Asylum

1. Hospicio de San Pascual Baylon in Manila

2. Asylum of St. Vincent de Paul in Manila for poor girls (1885)

3. Founding Hospital of San Jose for orphaned children and mentally ill (1782)

The American Military Government (1895-1907)

control of epidemicscholera, smallpox and plagues; the fight against other communicable diseases leprosy, diarrhea, malaria as well as beri-beri; the establishment of a health organization and administration and general sanitation.

1899

establishment of garbage crema

1901

first sanitary ordinance and rat control

1904

established technologically that contaminated water and unclean vegetables are important factors in the control of amoebic dysentery while Anopheles minimus was first pointed out as the vector of malaria

1905

cholera vaccine was first tried followed by compulsory vaccination of school children

confirmation of the theory that plague in man comes from infected rats

1906

opening of the leper colony in Culion and compulsory detection oflepers

1906

opening of the leper colony in Culion and compulsory detection oflepers

1902 & 1903

later on. There was a shift in administration in Washington. The Democrats were able to wrest control

1907

GovernorGeneralled to the enactment of the Jones Law which promoted further Filipinization. This

Philippine Assembly (1907-1916)

While most of the executive departmcnts were placed under Filipinos, the Bureau of Health remained under American administration. The public health program started to take off.

1908

1. first institution of the search for germ carriers

2. the new waterworks in Manila was inaugurated first using gcneral chemical disinfection as emergency measure against cholcra

3. first recruitment of nursing students who began studies as the Philippine Normal School sponsored by business firms in Manila

4. passing of the Employers Liability Law which made employers liable for injury and death of employees

1909

1. Inclusion of Hygiene and Physiology in the curriculum ofpuhlic elementary schools

2. start of anti-tuberculosis campaign with P35,OOO appropriation from the government

3. conduct of first sanitary survey of rural community

4. dissemination of the results of first nutrition survey

1910

1. organization of the Philippine Tuberculosis Society

2. opening of Pasteur Prophylaxis treatment against rahies recognizing that Beri-beri as associated with eating white polished rice

3. opening of the Philippine Gcneml Hospital with the P 1,000,000 appropriation from the government

1911

First demonstrated the eradication ofberi-beri among Philippine scouts by means of simple change in the diet. The first epidemic ofberi-beri was described by Koeniger in 1882. It was claimed that 60% of infant mortality was due to infantile beri-beri. The results of the researches of Fraser and Stanton, Aron and Hocson, Cromwell and Concepcion advanced the theory that the etiology of beri-beri is food deficiency especially diet consisting mainly of rice. This theory was endorsed by the Far Eastern Association of Tropical Medicine in 1910. The credit for the discovery of a specific treatment for the disease, tiqui-tiqui extract belongs to Chamberlain of the Army Board for the study of Tropical Diseases and two Filipino physicians: Dr. Joaquin Quintos and Dr. Manuel S. Guerrero. In 1914, Congress passed a law allowing free distribution of tiki-tiki to indigent mothers. The control and prevention of beri-beri is a distinct triumph of modern medicine. Some practitioners, however, discount the existence of the disease.

1912

initial use of anti-typhoid vaccine use of hypochlorite of lime for the first time for treating Manila water supply initial study on vitamin deficiency as cause ofberi-beri which ultimately culminated in the isolate of Vitamin Biothiamine

1913

use of etiology of amoebic dysentery in the detection of carriers and mild cases first use of dry vaccine against smallpox with successful results with potency for two months versus one week of glycerinated lymph vaccine first offering of graduate courses in hygiene and tropical medicine at the UP College of Medicine.

1914

manufacture and free distribution of tiki-tiki for treatment ofberi-beri inauguration of first "clean up week" Rise of non-government health organizations, such as: Gota de Leche, later named La Protection de la Infancia for the protection and care of infants; La Liga Nacional Filipinos Para la Protecion de la Infancia; Associacion de Damas Filipinas to help poor women and children; Settlement House - for the temporary shelter of destitute women and children; and Women's clubs.

1916

A Committee was appointed to study the cause and prevalence of typhoid fever.

1913-34

Thecomposition, value and vitamin distribution of many Philippine foods were studied. This is part of the drive for better nutrition.

1919

Schick test was first used on a large scale to determine the susceptibility of Filipino children to diphtheria.

1921

Rockefeller Foundation extended cooperation. Government and Rockefeller fellows were sent abroad to develop a corps of competent public health men who could assume leadership roles. Among these were Dr. Jacobo Fajardo, Director of Health, and Dr. Jose Fabella who became first secretary of Health and Welfare. Dr. Hilario Lara, Dean, Institute of Hygiene. Yaws was found controllable. Yaws clinic for administration ofsalvarsan opened.

1922

Campaign against hookworm was launched. Anti-dysentery vaccine as first tried locally. Role of seafood in transmission of cholera and of pollution of fishing sector to typhoid were studied.

1923

First training course for sanitary inspector Sewage of Manila purified by hypochlorite oflime Women and Child Labor Law - Act No. 3071 was conducted.

1924-1926

Mechanism of transmission through Aedes Egypt of dengue fever was studied successfully.

1925

Construction ofNovaliches dam started.

1926

Success of the first rapid sand treatment to purify water of swimming pool constructed at state university was attained. Legislation was passed for the establishment of School of Hygiene and Public Health with support from the Rockefeller Foundation.

1927

the National Research Council of the Philippines was officially organized in 1934 to promote comprehensive projects of research in the basic sciences of which health and medical research were areas of concern.

1928

B.S. in Education, major in health education was offered in U.P.

1929

Compulsory notification and inoculation for reportable disease was effected.

1930

Law was enacted to establish civil registry. Tuberculosis Commission was created.

1932

Free Emergency Medical Treatment for Laborers was offered. Industrial Hygiene and Sanitation were initiated. Philippine Public Health Association was organized. Building of School Hygiene and Public Health (Donation of Rockefeller Foundation) was constructed. First Child Health Day observed.

1933

Reorganization Act - consol idating public health and welfare activities under the Commission of Health and Welfare was promulgated.