Psychosocial Intervention and Disaster Education in Negros Oriental

The Visayas Primary Health Care Services, Inc. (VPHCS) sent a team to conduct Psychosocial Intervention and Disaster Education in Barangays Binobohan, Planas and Buenavista, Guihulngan and Barangay Mapalasan, La Libertad, Negros Oriental last December 13 - 20, 2012.

The week long activity is part of the rehabilitation project of the Community Empowerment Resource Network (CERNET) for victims of the earthquake and landslide in the barangays last February 6, 2012. The rehabilitation project also includes housing assistance and livelihood programs for the residents of the affected communities.

The VPHCS is a consortium member of the CERNET which is a civil society organization in the Visayas which assists marginalized people’s organizations in their development initiatives.

CERNET Executive Director Dr. Oliver Gimenez introduces 

about the psychosocial intervention and disaster education program.

The team composed of doctors, nurses, psychologists and other health professionals conducted educational inputs on the different kinds of disasters, both human and natural-made, overview of disaster preparedness, mitigation and management and psychosocial counseling for nearly 2,000 residents.

Cebu Normal University psychologists Gilbert Carredo (foreground) 

and Gilbert Kagakit

(background) in a play therapy with children 

victims of the February 2012 tragedy.

The activity was held in coordination with the four farmers’ associations in the barangays, namely, the Panaghugpong sa mga Mag-uuma sa Binobohan, Kahugpongan sa mga mag-uuma sa Planas, Kahugpongan sa mga mag-uuma sa Buenavista and La Libertad Weavers Association, the local government units of Guihulngan City and La Libertad and the barangays councils.

Another psychosocial therapy session of the children.

-------0-------

Insights from a psychologist

Our psychosocial intervention and disaster education program had great impact on the residents and helped them to answer their own concerns. We listened with empathy as they shared their stressful experiences as victims of tragedies that were totally unexpected -- the earthquake and landslide in February 2012, which made them fear of more coming typhoons, floods following heavy rains, other calamities and end of the world. The farmers willingly cooperated to learn from the disaster education and psychosocial therapy.

Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center psychologist 

Ma. Antonella Codeniera in a psychosocial therapy session.

However, in Barangay Binobohan, what was most stressful was the militarization (of the Philippine army) which caused the residents fear of impending death and made them hypervigilant always.

VPHCS staff nurse Irish Ramirez talks about disaster management.

We recommend for a follow-up of the psychosocial education, especially for the children who may need more time to fully address their psychotherapy.

By Gilbert A. Kagakit
On Call Psychologist
Cebu Normal University

Conference on Volunteering of the Academe

The VPHCS sent a representative, Susana Lynsy Linao-Ardona, R.N. to join the 2012 National Conference on the Engagement of the Academe in Volunteering or NCEAV last December 6-7 at the Miriam College in Quezon City, Metro Manila.  

The activity brought together representatives of state universities and colleges, other higher education institutions, non-government organizations, national government agencies, local government units and the private sector to examine the role of the academe in nation-building, under the theme ‘Creating synergy. Charting new paths.’ 

The NCEAV is convened by Miriam College and VSO Bahaginan. It aims to understand the landscape of volunteering in the Philippines and how this relates to the role of the academe, examine fundamental and emerging issues about volunteering by the academe and to share good practice and case studies, create a community of practice and help build a stronger voluntary sector that recognizes the impact and value of volunteering. 

Lynsy presented the VPHCS two-decade experience on how it has mobilized members of the health academe, particularly, medical, medical technology, dental, and nursing students to volunteer and render health services in its community-based health programs. She discussed about various activities of volunteer health students including the Student Integration Program (SIP) held during semestral and summer breaks which brings health students to poor communities. VPHCS has also initiated formation of the Students’ Health Advocacy for Response and Empowerment (SHARE) in Cebu and the Students’ Alliance for Community Health (SACHS) in Bohol which organize community exposure programs and services in marginalized communities. 

The NCEAV featured exhibitors from organizations across Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao to showcase good practices and case studies in volunteering. Plenary and breakout sessions provided a wide range of learning covering topics on the engagement of the academe in volunteering.

Lynsy Linao-Ardona discusses about the VPHCS 

experience on volunteering of the health academe 

in its community-based health programs.

VPHCS joins World AIDS Day Celebration

The Visayas Primary Health Care Services, Inc. (VPHCS) joined the World AIDS Day celebration last December 1 together with various groups which included the Cebu City Multisectoral STD and AIDS Council, Department of Health, Cebu City Health Department, Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center, Cebu Plus Association, and other non-government organizations.

The celebration started with a holy mass in the chapel of the Asilo de la Milagrosa, followed by a motorcade that ended in Plaza Independencia where a program was held.

The VPHCS is currently supporting the Iglesia Filipina Independiente – Visayas-Mindanao Regional Office for Development (IFI-VIMROD) in its project on HIV/AIDS prevention and awareness.

World AIDS Day is the focal point of the World AIDS Campaign, which is active all year round. On December 1, there are many health education campaigns. Anti-discrimination activities are also launched on or around this date. 

Staff of VPHCS and IFI-VIMROD pose before the program 

marking the celebration of the World AIDS Day in Plaza Independencia

following a motorcade along the city’s main streets.

During the program, Jerson See, president of the Cebu Plus Association, Inc. appealed for non-discrimination and respect for persons living with HIV/AIDS. Other speakers in the program included Cebu City Health Officer Dr. Stella M. Ygona, VSMMC Medical Specialist Dr. Annabelle Fuentes, and Cebu City Health Office Head of STD and HIV/Aids Detection Unit Dr. Ilya A. Tac-an.

A beauty pageant, Mr. and Miss World AIDS Day capped the celebration. 

Another pose in Plaza Independencia after the motorcade.