Dr. Ruchelle Marie Rayco Turqueza
Walking through…
The PSN Northern Luzon (PSN NL) chapter has grown from a pioneer group of 10 nephrologists, with Dr. Virginia Biteng as the first Chapter president, to a Chapter of 63 members. PSN NL was made official in 2012 during the Midyear convention held in Davao. We are not only a group of doctors practicing in geographically connected areas, but a family that grew together. Every year we look forward to our annual get togethers, post grad symposia and Christmas parties (usually spent in the mountains, enjoying the crisp, cold fresh air of Baguio). These were not just scientific events to learn from, but “family” reunions to enjoy and opportunities to renew and enrich ties. We still reminisce of days gone by: modelling during our Midyear convention in Vigan, dancing to the tunes of Beyonce during our Annual convention, post grad courses by the beaches of La Union.
So when this pandemic struck, all plans fell apart. Chapter activities were put on standby during the Luzon wide ECQ. World Kidney Day 2020 was celebrated creatively by online tiktok challenges and lay fora via Facebook and radio programs. The chapter also participated in making improvised PPE, distribution of donations to free standing dialysis units, and conducted lectures on COVID 19. Viber group chats and Zoom conferences were the ways we met and shared information.
The Natural Challenges: The Rain
Severe forces of nature have made 2020 a year of unprecedented misfortune. Starting with the January 2020 eruption of the Taal Volcano, then SARS-COV2 virus literally “became viral, ” and affecting all countries across the world. While the country was in ECQ from March to May, we were lucky to have generally good weather, and the succeeding months saw no major natural disaster.
Then November came, starting with Super Typhoon Rolly (international name Goni), which at the time was the world’s most powerful tropical cyclone for the year, bringing with it torrential rains and violent winds and major damage across Luzon. Typhoon Rolly (Goni) was quickly followed by Tropical Storms Siony (Atsani) and Tonyo (Etau) that struck Luzon and Visayas from November 5 to 8, 2020.
On November 11, 2020, Typhoon Ulysses thrashed Luzon, whipping destructive winds and dumping heavy rainfall that triggered massive flooding in several areas. According to experts, several factors caused the flooding. Aside from being the catch basin of rainwater from Cagayan Valley and the Cordillera Administrative Region, the opening of the floodgates of the nearby Magat Dam is also seen as a cause of the massive flooding in Cagayan and Isabela. The flooding, was considered to be the worst they had experienced in four decades.
Already crippled by the SARS-COV2 pandemic, Cagayan and Isabela expected a surge of COVID-19 infections and leptospirosis cases. The Philippine Society of Nephrology responded swiftly and Doxycycline capsules were immediately sent. Our nephrologists in Cagayan and Isabela quickly distributed these to several barangays and infantry divisions involved in relief and rescue operations. Leptospirosis information drives were also conducted to further educate the affected residents.
In Isabela, an unofficial count of 37 leptospirosis cases were seen after the onslaught of Typhoon Ulysses. Of the 37 cases, 18 underwent renal replacement therapy. In Cagayan, an unofficial count of 9 AKI cases due to leptospirosis were documented. The Chapter is forever grateful for the support received from PSN national and other chapters, and this may certainly helped lessen the occurrence of the disease. It is now one of the Chapter’s priorities to strengthen our Disaster Preparedness.
The Now and Onwards…
PSN NL chapter will soon celebrate 10 years of friendship and camaraderie. An anniversary and milestone we wish we could celebrate in better times. We are slowly planning more chapter activities, all in keeping with social distancing and maximizing social media. World Kidney Day 2021 was celebrated with promoting a healthy lifestyle among renal patients and COVID-19 vaccination. Plans for our post graduate course has been revived and will be done via virtual platforms. Plans for Kidney transplantation programs have already started, along with initial planning for a Nephrology Fellowship program in the area.
It is our hope and prayer that someday in the future, we look back and say we survived this unprecedented health crisis. The fight is still ongoing, not only against the virus itself, but the battle against misinformation and vaccine hesitancy. I would like to borrow the wise words of Amanda Gorman:
“That even as we grieved, we grew.
That even as we hurt, we hoped.
That even as we tired, we tried.
That we’ll forever be tied together, victorious”
In the middle of the global panic around Covid-19, the most visible health crisis of our time, we still see blessings around us. We still remain a family tied together with the common interests of being a beacon of ethical practice and improving renal care, and one in supporting our mother society, the Philippine Society of Nephrology, in moving together and healing as One.
