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