Some background… we have a small clinic here in the tribe which we and our partners have set up. The nearest government health clinic is very far away and even the closet place to buy medicine is hours away. Plus prices there are quite high. So we have done limited medical work over the years. But now we have Palawano health workers which we trained running the clinic and we are not directly involved unless they need a “second opinion.” We buy the medicines from generic suppliers in Manila and from an NGO in Germany. So, the prices are very low, and affordable for the Palawanos. The clinic workers get a small wage for their time, and they take turns, the clinic being open 2-5 pm Mon-Sat. It’s very special to us that one of the faithful clinic workers is Nili, who was our daughter Elisa’s good friend growing up from the time they were 4 years old. She calls us “aunt and uncle” and in many ways is like a daughter to us.

It’s a big help to the community, but it’s not a business. It doesn’t make any money. In fact, we consistently take a loss, intentionally, in order to keep the prices down. 

To make this work, we also have a policy of “no credit,” since in the past, people would not remember to repay the clinic and the debt mounted up once to nearly $500! We have told everyone, that if they need medicine, to borrow money from friends or relatives, but not from the clinic. And there’s always grace in the case of emergencies; they just need to come to us. We also have a sign posted that the clinic is “not a drugstore.” That is, people cannot just walk up and say, “Give me two tablets of penicillin.” The clinic health workers will be the ones to decide what medicine is needed. And they will always prescribe a full treatment.

In recent years a number of non-Palawanos have moved into the area. We don’t discriminate, and allow them to buy medicine at the clinic at the same prices as the Palawanos.

Some problems have been building and in the last week, it reached a crisis. Some of these non-Palawano men have been creating trouble at the clinic. Most of these people are quite nice, but there are a few of what Luke called “idlers in the marketplace.” They are unemployed, alcoholic and usually up to no good. Sadly, one of these men is the husband of our local school teacher!

Anyway, these men have been demanding that the clinic be open “whenever they want.” They want to be able to buy whatever medicine they request and resent having to allow the clinic workers to make a diagnosis and tell them what they need, and what dosage. They have yelled at the clinic workers, especially the female worker, Nili. They get angry when the clinic cannot make change for their large bill. They get abusive when the clinic workers hold to the policy of “no credit” even for non-essential medicines. They’ve made threats to “tear the clinic down and take the medicine.” One man has pulled out his machete and waving it threateningly at Nili. He chopped the side of the clinic to make his point (and hit a nail, chipping his blade, ha ha.)

But seriously, we cannot allow people to treat our clinic workers in this way. Nili is afraid to go to work. So we have shut the clinic down for a few days to support her and to give time to deal with the issue. First, we had Arturo go and speak with the troublemakers to see if he could reason with them. This way the problem could be solved without making a public scene. But they only became more angry and abusive and made threats. So the Palawanos have called for the “barangay captain” (like the head of the city council… the lowest level of Philippine local government) to come in and hold a hearing.

Please pray for wisdom for the captain (Jalil) and for the other men who will hear the case. Pray that the truth would come out and that tempers would not flare up, especially those on the clinic’s side, so that it will be clear that the anger and wrong behavior is all on the part of the troublemakers. Pray that some decision will be reached which will allow the clinic to reopen safely. Pray that these men will not do something rash, causing injury or damage to property here in the community.

And pray most of all that God will be glorified in this situation and use it to draw people… Palawanos, and yes, even these troublemakers… to himself.

Reaching Palawanos together with you,

-Bill and Donna