Stories of inspiration

Norlyna Goling: Katutubo at Kampeon sa Paglaban sa Malaria

Supported by Jonalyn Jackaria

Norlyna "Pula" Goling of Movement Against Malaria (MAM) Program // Photo by Jonalyn Jackaria

Kilala sa palayaw na “Pula” si Norlyna Goling, isang Tau’t Batong volunteer ng Movement Against Malaria (MAM) program. Siya ay naging parte ng programa noong 2015. Makalipas ang walong taon ay patuloy ang kanyang pagsusumikap sa pagpuksa at pagpigil ng sakit na malaria sa Katimugang Palawan kasama ng Pilipinas Shell Foundation Inc. (PSFI).

Kabilang ang mga Tau’t Bato sa katutubong Palaw’an. Kasama ng mga Molbog, sila ang pinakamalaking populasyon ng katutubo sa lugar. Mahalaga ang pakikipagtulungan mga boluntaryong katutubo tulad ni Pula sa pagpapanatili ng magandang kalusugan sa kanilang komunidad.

Pula with her cousin and her sister

Pagbabahagi ni Pula, inspirasyon niya sa pagsali sa programang MAM ng PSFI ang kanyang kapatid at ang kanyang mga anak. Dahil laganap pa rin ang sakit na malaria sa kanilang komunidad sa Sitio Ogis, Brgy. Ransang, pangunahin niyang tungkulin ang pagsasagawa ng blood tests o blood smears na ginagamit upang matukoy kung positibo o negatibo sa malaria ang pinagkuhanan.

Ang malaria ay nagmumula sa parasites na dala ng mga infected na lamok. Kapag hindi ito naagapan, maaari itong ikamatay ng pasyente. Ang malaria test ay ang unang hakbang sa pagtukoy sa nasabing sakit. Napakahalaga na maisagawa ang hakbang na ito sa lalong madaling panahon upang mabigyan ng tamang lunas ang may sakit.

Madalas na sa Sitio Ogis nakatakda ang sinasagawang blood smears ni Pula.  Bukod pa rito’y nilalakbay niya rin ang ibang sitio upang tumulong sa kanilang testing. Malayo man at hindi madali ang kanilang tinatahak, taos-puso ang kanyang pagtupad sa tungkulin.

 

Movement Against Malaria (MAM) Blood Smearing // Photo by Jonalyn Jackaria

Pagkatapos ng ilang buwang pagboboluntaryo, nakatatanggap ng regular allowance si Pula mula sa programa. Ito aniya ay nakakatulong sa kanyang kabuhayan. “Naisip ko na wala akong pinagkakakitaan kaya naisip ko na gusto kong pumasok [sa MAM]. At saka para makatulong sa kapwa ko katutubo,” aniya.

Dahil sa kaniyang pagiging isang volunteer, lumawak ang kaalaman ni Pula at nadagdagan ang kanyang kumpiyansa sa sarili.

 

“Kasi dati mahiyain po ako tapos nakakabasa po ako pero ‘di ko maintindihan. Pero noong nakasali po ako dito sa [volunteer program], parang lumawak po ang kaisipan ko.”

Bilang bihasa sa pagsasagawa ng malaria test, siya na rin ang gumagawa ng blood smear para sa kaniyang pamilya. Ayon kay Pula, ito ay nakakagaan ng loob dahil nasisigurado niyang sila ay malusog at ligtas sa sakit.

“Nagpapasalamat lang ako sa [PSFI] dahil sa tulong nila sa mga kapwa ko katutubo, kapwa ko Tau’t Bato. Natutulungan sila dahil diyan sa [malaria program].” 

Malaki rin ang pasasalamat niya sa kanyang kapwa volunteers dahil sa kanilang pagtulong sa Sitio Ogis at sa kalakhan ng Brgy. Ransang.

“Kahit mahirap, tuloy-tuloy pa rin, kahit napapagod,” aniya.

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