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