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.