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.

ACT continues support for Bohol project

Further development of the community-based health program in two rural barangays in Bohol is expected to continue this year with the recent approval of the project by the Asian Community Trust (ACT) of Japan.

The ACT committee through its Executive Secretary Mr. Michio Ito informed the VPHCS after a meeting last March 23 of its continued support of the project “Strengthening community-based health programs to promote health and prevent disease in Bohol” in Barangay Sto. Nino in the municipality of San Miguel and Barangay Caluasan, Dagohoy in the municipality of Bohol. There are 25 households (679 population) in Sto. Nino and 402 households (2,132 population) in Caluasan.

Municipalty of San Miguel, Bohol

The project started in April 1, 2010 in partnership with the people’s organizations, Hugpong Mag-uuma sa San Miguel (HUMASA) or the Farmers Association in San Miguel and the Mga Mag-uuma sa Lakalsanda Apektado sa Land Levelling (Farmers in Lakalsanda affected by Land Levelling) in Caluasan. Community health workers (CHWs) were equipped through basic health skills trainings conducted with knowledge and skills to address the health problems in the communities. As a result, they are now leading their respective people’s organizations in conducting health education classes on nutrition and basic home remedies and rendering health services which include operation blood pressure and ventusa.

A community health worker renders ventusa services

Common health problems identified in the community diagnosis in the two barangays last June included respiratory tract infections, influenza, hypertension, diarrhea, muscle pains and fatigue, and common infections that can be prevented and managed through continuing health education and basic health services that can be rendered by the trained CHWs.

The second year of the project starting on April 1 aims to sustain the services of the trained CHWs and health awareness raising and promotion among the residents, institute a family planning program in Caluasan and a nutrition program to address the problem of malnutrition, and mobilize the people’s organizations to link with the rural health units and other agencies that would address their health needs.

Additional four basic health skills trainings and four special skills trainings for the 20 trained CHWs, monthly community health classes, and four medical missions shall be conducted in the second year.

The project aims to reduce the prevalence of preventable and communicable diseases in both barangays. by empowering the people’s organizations to deliver basic health information and services in their communities and to manage and sustain their community-based health programs.

VPHCS joins dengue campaign

The VPHCS has joined hands with government agencies, local government agencies and civil society groups to stop the dengue outbreak in Cebu.

With people’s organizations in various urban poor communities where dengue cases have been reported or the population is vulnerable, the VPHCS is conducting health awareness drives on the cause of the dreaded viral disease and its signs and symptoms, and cleanliness drives to rid of mosquito breeding places.

On Sept. 18, VPHCS physician Dr. Erlinda Posadas and Cebu Institute of Medicine (CIM) student Serah Allera discussed about dengue fever among the residents of Sitio Mahayahay, Barangay Pasil. A resident also shared how her three children recently were admitted with the disease. Residents are now intensifying their cleanliness drives.

Dr.Erlinda Posadas with Pasil residents

CIM student Serah Allera talks about dengue with Pasil residents

On Sept. 24, University of Southern Philippines (USP) nursing instructor Zane Omega and two nurse volunteers of VPHCS conducted a health education class with residents of Sitio Cahipa, Barangay Hipodromo. The activity was organized by the Nagkahiusang Lumolupyo sa Cahipa ug Bakante or NALCABA, the local people’s organization. Nearly 50 residents joined the activity.

USP nursing instructor talk about dengue in Hipodromo

Two nurses talk about the 4 S's in dengue

Hipodromo residents listen about dengue

Another dengue information drive was conducted in Sitio Back of Matimco in Subangdaku, Mandaue City on October 4.

Posters and leaflets from the Department of Health –Regional Office were distributed by the VPHCS in various urban poor communities.

Dengue campaign in Sitio Back of Matimco

The VPHCS is also working with community health workers (CHW) and leaders of its partner people’s organizations in order to sustain the information drives and cleanliness campaigns in their communities.

The VPHCS is also set to conduct blood typing services among residents of dengue-prone communities in order to come up with a list of blood donors in emergency cases.

Pasil residents listen about dengue fever

Health alliance assembly held

The second general assembly of a Bohol-based health alliance was held last Friday, Sept. 30, 2010 in Tagbilaran City in order to advance the health conditions of the Boholanos.

The Alyansa sa Katawhan alang sa Maayong Panglawas (KAHIMSOG) is composed of people’s organizations in the grassroots, community health workers (CHWs), nurses, doctors and other health professionals, nursing students, non-government organizations and government agencies and other health advocates. It shall work to improve the health conditions in the province.

The assembly theme was: Iasdang ang katungod ug kaayuhan sa katawhan ug mga mamumuo sa panglawas para sa kahimsog. It was held at the conference room of the JJ’s Mandarin, Dimsum.

The assembly was graced by Bohol Provincial Board Member Chairman of the Committee on Health Dr. Ceasar Tomas “Yul” Lopez who expressed the government’s support to work with the Kahimsog, Ms. Angelita Maleriado, Provincial Health Office Public Health Nurse, Ms. Conchi Manhilot, Clinical Instructor-University of Bohol, Dr. Rosendo Lopez III, Head Dental Department in the Celestino Gallares Memorial Hospital, Sr. Gloria and Fr. Desiderio Magdoza of Rural Missionaries of the Phil. (RMP).

Leaders of the Hugpong sa mga Mag-uuma sa Bohol (HUMABOL) represented by William Boybanting and Danilo Olayvar, Paula Destor of Bol-anong Kahugpungan sa mga Kabus nga Nangisda (BOKKANA), Linda Salo (Sandigan sa mga Bol-anong Kababayen-an nga Nag-uma ug Nanagat (SABAKAN),and community health workers of people’s organizations, nurses, nursing students, also attended the activity.

Dr. Erlinda Posadas of the VPHCS talked on the national health situation.

Dr. Erlinda Posadas and Ms. Lynsy Linao, staff members of the Visayas Primary Health Care Services (VPHCS) discussed the rationale of the reactivation of Kahimsog by discussing the health conditions of the Filipino people, the People’s Health Agenda presented by national progressive health groups to the Aquino government, and the community-based health programs as an alternative health care system.

The Kahimsog was formed in 1998. Among its achievements included the establishment of a health referral system of poor patients to health workers, medical missions in depressed communities, lobbying to increase the health budget in the LGUs and to make ambulance service free of charge, support to the campaign of the health professionals against the Medical Malpractice bill which was later shelved by Congress, and primary health care campaigns in marginalized communities.


Officers of the Kahimsog were elected by the body in the assembly. They are the following, namely:

Chairperson.............Olympia Maldos (P.O.)
Vice Chairperson........Peter John Filiseo (R.N.)
Sec. Gen. ..............Luz Yana (CHW)
Rep. Students..........Grace Dahan
Health Professionals....Dr. Rosendo Lopez III and Dr. Doloreich Dumaluan

CHW’s
D1..... Gardenia Pono
D2..... Vilma Fuentes
D3..... Shirley Butlig

P.O
Humabol..... Danilo Olayvar
Sabakan..... Linda Salo
Bokkana..... Paula Destor

Building Community-based Health Programs to Promote Health and Prevent Disease in Bohol

The Visayas Primary Health Care Services, Inc. (VPHCS), with the support of the Asian Community Trust (ACT) has been implementing a project “Building community-based health programs to promote health and prevent disease in Bohol.”

The project areas are Barangay Sto. Nino in the Municipality of San Miguel and Barangay Caluasan in the Municipality of Dagohoy in Bohol. The communities have been affected by the failure of the Malinao Dam Project which has worsened their economic situation that in turn affected their health conditions.

The project which started in April 2010 works with 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.

A basic health skills training was conducted last August 9 – 14 for community health workers (CHWs) in order to equip them with knowledge and skills to build community based health programs which shall address the common health problems in their communities.


Capacity building is a primary strategy in the project which will enable the CHWs and the leaders of the people’s organizations to launch health campaigns that will address the prevalence of common preventable and communicable diseases. Direct health services by project staff and volunteer health professionals shall also address the diseases in the communities.

The Asian Community Trust (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.

Health programs that answer the health needs of the communities shall be instituted in the project by the trained CHWs together with the leaders and members of their people’s organizations. Community participation and involvement in designing the health programs appropriate for the communities shall be ensured as it is a hallmark in community-based health programs and is the cornerstone in the primary health care approach of health service delivery.

The health programs are based on results of surveys and key informant interviews that gathered data on the socio-demographic profile and health data including common health problems, causes of deaths, the immunization status and nutritional status of preschoolers, health services available in the community, methods of family planning and nutritional and food practices of the families.