ACT program officer visits Cebu, Bohol

Asian Community Trust (ACT) Program Officer Megumi Nishijima recently visited Bohol in order to gain first-hand experience of the progress of its project being implemented in partnership with the Visayas Primary Health Care Services, Inc.

ACT program officer Megumi Nishijima attends meeting with farmers in project areas, November 18.

Ms. Nishijima visited Barangay Sto. Nino in the Municipality of San Miguel and Barangay Caluasan in the Municipality of Dagohoy last Nov. 17- 18, 2011 in line with the ongoing project "Building community-based health programs to promote health and prevent disease in Bohol.” The project started in April 2010 and is on its second year.

Mothers listen to the health discussion.

VPHCS staff Dr. Grace Molina, Cheryl Molina and Petty de Castro with Ms. Nishijima.

Community health workers picking lagundi leaves to be processed into lagundi syrup, a bronchodilator for common cough.

The ACT, Japan's first fund raising-style charitable trust, was established in 1979 to assist people at the grass-roots level in Asian developing countries. It has supported projects in more than five Asian countries, in fields spanning health, medical treatment, education, youth training, and development of rural communities. It has funded several projects in urban poor settlers and fishermen communities in Cebu.

Ms. Nishijima talked with leaders and community health workers of the farmers’ organization in Sto. Nino, the Hugpong Mag-uuma sa San Miguel (HUMASA) or the Farmers Association in San Miguel and the farmers’ organization Mga Mag-Uuma sa LACALSANDA Apektado sa Land Levelling (MALALA) (Farmers in Lacalsanda affected by Land levelling) in Caluasan.

Ms. Nishijima (extreme left) listens to a community health worker conduct a health discussion.

A health education was conducted by a CHW during her visit.

Later, Ms. Nishijima visited the VPHCS office on Nov. 21 and discussed with the VPHCS office about her visit insights and plans for the project.

Ms, Nishijima with VPHCS staff, Novemeber 21, 2011.

Asian Community Trust project in Bohol continues

The community-based health program (CBHP) supported by the Asian Community Trust (ACT) in Japan in Brgy. Sto.Niño in San Miguel and Brgy.Caluasan in Dagohoy, Bohol is on it’s second year.

The project which started in April 2010 and continued for another year starting April 2011 aims to address the health needs of the farmers through the primary health care approach.

Community health workers from Sto. Nino and Caluasan listen to Dr. Grace Molina during the Basic Health Skills Training in the VPHCS training center, Baclayon.

Basic health skills training for 12 CHWs of Caluasan was held. Topics included (1) basic health orientation, (2) basic anatomy and physiology, (3) nutrition and food supplementation, (4) management of common diseases, (4) basic first aid and, (5) guide to health campaign.

With the knowledge and skills they garnered in the trainings in the first and second years, the CHWs handled common illnesses such as upper respiratory tract infections or common colds, diarrhea, fever, gastritis, muscle and joint pains, tension headaches, and skin diseases with the use of herbal medicines, water therapy, ventusa, and over-the-counter medications such as paracetamol, antacids, oral rehydration salts, and common antibiotics. Cases that they cannot handle were quickly referred to the health centers or government hospitals for more specialized care.

Blood pressure monitoring was also conducted by the CHWs for identified hypertensive patients even as new cases of hypertension were screened in the series of operation blood pressure that the CHWs conducted. Hypertensive patients were also referred for further work-up for possible complications and associated illnesses such as heart diseases and diabetes mellitus.

Sto. Niño Farmers Association assembly on Sept 4.

The trained CHWs also continued to raise the health awareness of the people on disease prevention and health promotion through monthly health education classes and health services. Topics included home remedies for common ailments, nutrition, basic first aid, family planning and contraception, control of acute respiratory tract infections, and control of diarrheal diseases, among others.

A nutrition program is ongoing to address the malnutrition problem among preschool children in the two project areas. Malnourished children are given nutritious food while health information on nutrition is disseminated.

A family planning program was also launched in Caluasan, Dagohoy to address the unmet need for family planning which was identified in the community diagnosis survey conducted in the first year.

To ensure partnership with local government officials, the leaders and CHWs also paid courtesy calls to incumbent barangay officials.

VPHCS staff and Sto. Nino farmers association leaders attend a barangay council meeting.

Other activities for the rest of the year include health skills trainings for CHWs, special leadership skills training for the leaders of the farmers associations, continued monthly community education classes, regular community clinics and home visits by the CHWs, and networking with barangay councils, municipal governments and civic organizations in order to generate resources and promote their community-based health programs.

Farmer leaders meet with VPHCS staff.

Since community participation is a hallmark of CBHPs, the people in the barangays have indeed strived hard to collectively work together to address their common health issues and problems through their CBHP.

German Philipinenburo staff visits VPHCS

Michael Reckordt, executive director of the Philippinenburo in Germany recently visited the VPHCS office and got acquainted with its programs and services.

Beckordt met with the VPHCS staff last Nov. 9, 2011 as part of his visit in Cebu to get to know more about current Philippine issues.

Michael Reckordt with VPHCS staff, November 9, 2011.

Philippinenburo is an information and solidarity center of the German Asia House which was established by the German Asia Foundation in Essen in 1995 to promote dialogue with countries of Asia and Asians living in Germany.

Philippinenburo’s activities comprise publishing informations and campaigning on various issues, maintaining links between Germany and Asia and organizing cultural and educational events.

Reckordt was a member of the International Observers Mission (IOM) who came to the country to observe the conduct of the automated elections and election practices in May 2010.

Michael jotting down notes during a meeting with Ermita residents.

While in Cebu, he also visited Ermita and talked with the members of the Ermita Fisher Folks Association (EFFA) to know about their situation.

Asmae – VPHCS end of project document released

An end of the project document (EOPD) of the VPHCS three-year projects with the Asmae – Association Soeur Emmanuelle in France has just been released.

The 28-page document in magazine form chronicles the three projects implemented with the support of Asmae from March 2008 to December 2010 to improve the health and welfare of three urban poor communities in Metro Cebu, namely: Sitio St. Mary Grace in Barangay Talamban, Cebu City, Sitio Back of Matimco in Barangay Subangdaku, Mandaue City, and Sitio Salvage in Barangay Looc, Lapu-lapu City.

The VPHCS also reaped huge gains in terms of organizational strengthening and capability building to pursue its programs and services in a more systematic, effective and efficient manner.

One project evolved into the second and then into the third. The first project, “Capability Building on Community-based Health Programs in Cebu: Community Diagnosis” in March 2008 to August 2008 was followed by the second project “Promotion of Environmental Health and Child Nutrition in Community-based Health Programs in Cebu and Strengthening the Sustainability Aspect of the VPHCS” in April 2009 to December 2009 and the third project, “Strengthening and Sustaining the Community-based Health Programs in Cebu” in January 2010 to December 2010.”

The projects worked in partnership with the people’s organizations, including the St. Mary Grace Neighborhood Association in Barangay Talamban, the Kaming Lumulupyo walay Sandigan (KALUWASAN) in Sitio Back of Matimco, and the Anakpawis – Looc Chapter in Sitio Salvage.

Generally, the whole project is part and parcel of the community-based health programs (CBHP) building endeavors of the VPHCS for the past several years.

Building and strengthening local capacity has become more urgent with the advent of the national and global trend on health which emphasizes user-fee services and privatization of government health service agencies in the face of the people’s worsening poverty that severely incapacitates them to pay for health care.

The community projects have indeed harnessed the people’s initiatives to map out their own plans and programs to improve the health situation in their communities. With such initiatives proven and embedded in their organizations, the CBHPs in the three sitios continue to this day to be pursued vigorously in order to meet the health needs of the people in the face of the increasing cost of health care and economic crisis facing our country. The project outputs – the health centers, the toilets, the services of the health committees and the improved health-seeking behavior and general health situation of the people shall remain as indelible hallmarks of the project in the years to come.

Kalihukan sa Katawhan alang sa Kahimsog (KKK) launched in Cebu

The launching of the Kalihukan sa Katawhan alang sa Kahimsog (KKK) or the People’s Movement for Health was held with the Purple Ribbon Campaign for the passage of the Reproductive Health Bill last October 7.

The VPHCS is one of the convenors of the KKK. The other convenors and participating organizations in the whole-day activity included the following, namely: Catholics for Reproductive Health – Cebu, Consortium for Gender, Health and Development, Crusade against Violence (CAV), Gabriela – Cebu, Family Planning Organization of the Philippines (FPOP), Population Commission (POPCOM) Region 7, Association of Concerned Texters (ACT), Bisdak Pride, Inc., Carolinians for Reproductive Health, United Vendors Association (CCUVA), Cebu Urban Poor Women’s League (CUPWOL), National Union of Students of the Philippines (NUSP), Panaghugpong sa Kabus sa Dakbayan sa Cebu (Federation of Urban Poor Organizations in Cebu), Philippine Federation of Married Catholic Priests, Pro Quality Life Training and Development, Sidlak Gender Resource Center – Region 7, SUMAKA, Inc., United Church of Christ in the Philippines, and the Women’s Resource Center of Cebu (WRCV).

Forum in CENDET

The theme was “Reproductive Health towards Universal Access to Comprehensive Health Care for Filipinos.”

The activities included statements, a press conference, a multi-sectoral forum, a city-wide caravan, and a program in Fuente Osmena Park.

March for RH to Fuente Osmena Park

The Purple Ribbon campaign was held in partnership with the Philippine Legislators Committee on Population and Development Foundation, Inc. (PLCPD), Reproductive Health Advocacy Network (RHAN), Philippine NGO Council on Population, Health and Welfare, Inc. (PNGOC), and the Forum for Family Planning and Development.

Former Secretary of Health Dr. Alberto Romualdez, C4RH national president Dr. Edelina Dela Paz, and Gabriela Women’s Party Rep. Emerenciana de Jesus spoke in the press conference on the necessity of the RH bill and universal access to health care.

A forum was held in the Center for Development Education and Training (CENDET) at 2: 00 p.m. attended by around 300 members of the participating organizations. Dr. Dela Paz talked on the theme, “The Reproductive Health Bill, a Step Forward towards Universal and Comprehensive Health Care.” Following her talk was Rep. de Jesus with her “Updates, Prospects of the RH Bill.”

Press Conference on the Purple Ribbon Campaign and launching of the KKK.

Simultaneous with the forum was a motorcade of groups and individuals calling for the
passage of the RH bill that toured the major city streets and places including Osmena Boulevard, M.J. Cuenco Ave., Carbon Market, Tabo-an market, Mango Ave. and other major thoroughfares. Leaflets written in Cebuano containing the basics on the RH bill were distributed while speeches and announcements were also made as the motorcade toured around the city.

Motorcade in the city’s major thoroughfares

Marinet Palacio, urban poor group representative speaks.

The participants of the forum and motorcade later converged in Fuente Osmena Park, where a program ensued with various speakers taking turns in calling for the passage of the RH bill and universal access to health care.

VPHCS sustain health program in Sitios St. Mary Grace and Back of Matimco, expand to Barangay Canjulao

The health programs in Sitio St. Mary Grace, Talamban, Cebu City and Sitio Back of Matimco in Subangdaku, Mandaue City, have been sustained by its people’s organizations and health committees.

The St. Mary Grace Neighborhood Association and the Kaming Lumulupyo Walay Sandigan (KALUWASAN) through their community health workers (CHWs) have continued with their health activities to improve the health and welfare of their residents.

Health class in Sitio St. Mary Grace

Health education classes, health services and information drives have continued to this day. An herbal garden in St. Mary Grace is being cultivated to raise common herbs like lagundi for cough, tanglad, malunggay, and other plants with medicinal values. In Back of Matimco, the health workers have also made an ointment for skin infections from kalachuchi, malunggay and panyawan stems.

Health workers in Sitio Back of Matimco make kalachuchi, kamunggay, panyawan ointment from the plants

Health workers cultivate an herbal garden in Sitio St. Mary Grace

Meanwhile, the VPHCS has also expanded its CBHP endeavors to Barangay Canjulao, Lapu-lapu City recently. Meetings with the leaders of the people’s organization, Anakpawis – Canjulao Chapter, have been held and a community diagnosis survey of the barangay health problems conducted. From the problems identified, a basic health skills training was held on Oct. 27 – 29 to give knowledge and skills to the health workers to address the problems.

Health committee members in Canjulao, Lapu-lapu listen to VPHCS staff member Dr. Petty de Castro (not seen in photo)

The VPHCS has partnered with the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and the Bayan Muna Party-List in its CBHP building programs in urban poor communities in Cebu.

Pasil community health workers continue health program

Under the leadership of the Pasil Women’s Organization, the community health workers (CHWs) in Sitio Lawis, Pasil, continue to render basic health services to the residents.

A river divides barangays Pasil and Ermita.

The CHWs treat common illnesses such as common colds, fever, stomachache, headache and other complaints with the use of herbal medicines such as lagundi, a bronchodilator and expectorant, water therapy, ventusa, and over-the-counter medications such as paracetamol, antacids, oral rehydration salts, and common antibiotics.

The health committee in Pasil.

With their regular blood pressure monitoring, identified hypertensive patients are advised to take their maintenance medicines and referred to the VPHCS office and the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center for further management.

Health information on hypertension and its complications and associated illnesses such as heart diseases and diabetes mellitus is also regularly given.

Meeting of the health committee.

Pasil health committee with Dr. Erlinda Posadas.

A community health worker takes temperature of a child.

A program on the control of tuberculosis which is a common disease in Pasil and other urban poor communities is also underway. The CHWs shall screen residents for TB based on common symptoms such as cough of more than two weeks, afternoon fever, poor appetite and weight loss, and advise them to have sputum examination in the health center for proper management.

Health education on control of hypertension

SHARE – USP nursing assembly held

A new set of officers was elected in an assembly of the Students for Health, Advocacy, Response and Empowerment (SHARE) – University of Southern Philippines – Foundation (USP) – Nursing College Chapter last August 26.

Elected officers were president, Heloise Dosdos; vice-president, Pearl Templado; secretary, Stanley Noel; treasurer, Franz Jibson; PRO, Maricel Fetiluna and Rubelyn Ursabi. They were sworn into office by VPHCS staff Dr. Erlinda Posadas.

Prior to the election, the members were given an orientation about SHARE by Jethamae Paglinawan, R.N., one of the pioneer members of SHARE, and current SHARE adviser.

SHARE pioneer member and adviser Jethamae Paglinawan speaks on SHARE principles to USP nursing students.

Oath taking of officers of SHARE - USP.

The SHARE is an organization of college students in health and health allied science courses which aims to develop social responsibility among students and harness their initiatives in responding to issues and problems affecting the country’s health care delivery system. Since its founding which was initiated by the VPHCS, the SHARE has provided venues for the students to discuss about current health issues, conducted community integration programs, and brought students to render health services in depressed communities.

Meanwhile, the VPHCS through its staff Dr. Erlinda Posadas also conducted an orientation about community-based health programs to members of the Total Outreach for Community Health (TORCH), a student organization of the Cebu Institute of Medicine (CIM) last August 29. Members of the TORCH have for the past years been volunteers of the VPHCS in its various medical and outreach missions and has partnered with the VPHCS in several of its annual operation tuli (circumcision). The students who attended the orientation last August 29 were mostly first and second year medical students who promised to volunteer in future health services of VPHCS.

Dr. Erlinda Posadas (extreme right) gives CBHP orientatioin to TORCH members.

Yokohama National University Students Visit VPHCS

Graduate students of the Yokohama National University (YNU) in Japan came to know about community-based health programs (CBHPs) in Cebu during their visit with the Visayas Primary Health Care Services, Inc. last August 24, 2011.

Prof. Osamu Koike, YNU Professor (extreme left) and his students. Extreme right is VPHCS staff Dr. Erlinda Posadas with Prof. Cherry Ballescas on her right.

The six students were led by their Professor, Osamu Koike, PhD., Professor of Public Policy and Administration of the International Graduate School of Social Sciences of the YNU. Sun Star Columnist and Prof. Cherry Ballescas of the Regional Center of Expertise on Education for Sustainable Development (RCE)–Cebu facilitated the visit of the group.

In their visit in the VPHCS office, VPHCS staff members Dr. Erlinda Posadas explained the programs of the VPHCS which work in partnership with people’s organizations in depressed communities in providing basic health services by developing CBHPs based on the principles of primary health care.

The group with two community health workers in Sitio Back of Matimco.

In order to have a better understanding of CBHPs, the group visited Sitio Back of Matimco in Barangay Subangdaku, Mandaue City, where they talked with community health workers (CHWs) who shared how they render basic promotive, preventive and certain curative services in their community. The Japanese students also had an ocular survey of the houses, walked in flooded ground and talked with the residents. The students learned about the difficult situation facing the residents and were inspired about how they have collectively worked, through their organization, the Kaming Lumulupo walay Sandigan (KALUWASAN) to improve their living conditions. Flooding has been a perennial problem in the sitio due to the absence of a drainage system and worsened by the reclamation of a portion of the land.

The group poses in front of the chapel in the sitio.

The group poses with VPHCS staff Cheryl Molina (extreme left), a CHW and two kids.

With three CHWs in front of a housing project being constructed in the sitio.

Walking in flooded ground.

Looking at the communal water project, the source of drinking water in the sitio, which is managed by the people’s organization.

The Japanese visitors had also visited an urban poor community in Metro Manila prior to their visit in Cebu. Their visit in Manila was facilitated by Dr. Jaime Galvez-Tan, RCE member VPHCS Board of Trustees member and UP – Manila Professor.

Solidarity Health and Relief Mission in Negros Oriental

The Visayas Primary Health Care Services, Inc. (VPHCS) joined other non-government organizations in holding a Solidarity Health and Relief Mission in Brgy Trinidad, Guihulngan Negros Oriental last July 17 – 18, 2011.

A community health worker of the Franciscans Mountain Clinic takes blood pressure of a patient

The mission provided much needed medical, dental, and circumcision services and distributed food and other relief goods to nearly 1,000 farmers and their families residing in the mountain barangays of Trinidad, Kasanday, Takpaw, and Binobohan in Guihulngan.

Dentists from the Cebu Dental Society served more than 90 patients

Dr. Mark Molina attends to a patient

The mission was sponsored by the Negros Island Health Integrated Program (NIHIP), the Franciscans Mountain Clinics, Community Empowerment and Resource Network (CERNET), Center for People’s Resources and Services Inc. (CPRS), Negros Rural Assistance Program, Inc (NRAPI), Rural Missionaries of the Philippines (RMP), and the Filipino American Health Workers Association (FAHWA).

The team from the VPHCS was composed of Drs. Mark Molina and Grace Molina, Lourdes Geolin, Emelie Fernandez, Cheryl Padilla, R.N., Linda de Castro, and Arian Rama, R.N. The Cebu Dental Society sent a team of nine dentists.

VPHCS physician Dr. Mark Molina

The beneficiaries included 90 dental patients, 41 circumcised boys, 561 medical patients, and 210 families given food and relief goods.

The mission was requested by the farmers’ organization in Negros Oriental, the KAUGMAON or Kahugpungan sa mga Gagmayng Mag-uuma sa Oriental Negros in response to the dire lack of medical services in the far-flung barangays of Guihulngan and the prevalence of poverty and malnutrition.

The medical and relief team

4th Pencil for a Cause

The Students Alliance for Community Health Services (SACHS) based in Tagbilaran City, with staff of the Visayas Primary Health Care Services led by VPHCS Bohol project coordinator Dr. Grace Molina conducted the Fourth Pencil for a Cause Project in Barangay Danao, Municipality of Panglao, Bohol last July 3.

Children line up to receive school supplies

Children waiting for their turn to receive school supplies

More than 200 children of families belonging to the Danao Fisherfolks Association and the Purok 3 and 4 Daurong Anti-Panglao Island Reclamation Project received school supplies solicited by the students.

The activity is a yearly project of the SACHS which was organized by the VPHCS in Bohol. The students organization with members coming from different nursing schools including University of Bohol and Holy Name University in Tagbilaran City has been very active in medical missions and community outreach programs initiated by the VPHCS.

The 16 students also had a group discussion on the adverse effects of the reclamation project in Panglao and visited the affected families.

Before departure back to Tagbilaran City