First Health Financing Summit in Cebu

The Visayas Primary Health Care Services, Inc., is partnering with the Asian Institute of Management (AIM) to host the First Health Financing Summit in Cebu entitled “Universal Health Care: The Role of Health Financing in Achieving Universal Health Care” on January 26, 2011 at the Cebu Institute of Medicine Amphitheatre from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Universal Health Care through better health care financing is seen as the constructive alternative to many of the current solutions being undertaken by our Philippine Government when attempting to improve access to health by society at large. It is a response to the need for equitable health care for all Filipinos based on need and not based on ability to pay. Health financing is one of the six building blocks of a health system: governance, health information system, human resources for health, health organization, regulation and health financing.

The one-day activity is expected to bring together local government officials, congressmen, government health officials, mayors, municipal health officers, chiefs of district hospitals, private hospital heads, health maintenance organizations, medical societies representatives, deans of nursing and medical schools, pharmacy owners, health non-government organizations, people’s organizations, pharmacists, and other stakeholders in the health and non-health sectors in Cebu and Bohol.

Speakers include among others, Dr. Soe Nyunt-U, World Health Organization (WHO) Representative to the Philippines, Hon. Stephen Lillie, United Kingdom Ambassador to the Philippines, Dr. Kenneth Hartigan-Go of the Asian Institute of Management, Former Cebu City Health Officer Dr. Tomas Fernandez, Dr. Alvin Caballes of the University of the Philippines- Manila, Dr. Fidelis Quiza of the Cebu Institute of Medicine, Dr. Leizel Lagrada of the Department of Health- Central Office, and Mayor Sonia Lorenzo, San Isidro, Nueva Ecija.

Sibonga medical mission held

More than 500 patients from barangays in Carcar and Sibonga were served in a medical mission participated in by the Visayas Primary Health Care Services, Inc. (VPHCS) in Sibonga Simala Sports Centrum last Dec. 19, 2010.

The medical mission was organized by the Southern Partners and Fair Trade Center (SPFTC), Rotary Club of Banilad Metro (RCBM), VPHCS, Fisherfolk Development Center (FIDEC), Municipality of Sibonga, Punchbowl Baptist Church in Sidney, Australia, and Rural Concerns Network.

Patients came from the barangays of Lamacan, Simala, Banlot, Bagakay, Balaas, Catap, and Kadagit in Sibonga and Bolinawan and Napo in Carcar which have farmers’ organizations that have partnered with the SPFTC in its livelihood programs.


Services during the mission included medical consultations, dental services, blood sugar determination, minor surgery, and general check-up of elementary students.



Medicines and other resources were donated by Fair Trade Friends in Japan, the RCBM, Punchbowl Baptist Church, and Perfectly Natural Herbs and Dunkin Donuts.


The medical team was comprised of VPHCS team Dr. Mark Molina, Dr. Erlinda Posadas, Dr. Grace Molina, Dr. Oliver Gimenez and Cheryl Molina, R.N, Cebu Institute of Medicine graduates Dr. Kenneth Yap and Dr. Larsen Omolon, Dr. Joy Villalon, Dr. Roger Fabian, and volunteer nurses and nursing students.



The SPFTC has been undertaking medical missions in the past years to provide basic medical support to its marginalized and deserving community partners serving 600 to 1,300 individuals in each undertaking.

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

Operation tuli missions conducted

Nearly 500 boys were circumcised by staff and volunteers of the Visayas Primary Health Care Services, Inc. (VPHCS) and other groups in three separate operation tuli missions this April.

The first operation tuli was held in Poblacion Baclayon, Bohol on April 22, sponsored by the VPHCS, the local government unit of the Municipality of Baclayon, the Students Alliance for Community Health Services (SACHS) in Bohol, and the Kabataan Party List. More than 180 boys from Baclayon availed of the services.



The second operation tuli was held in Barangay Bolinawan, Carcar City on April 24, held in coordination with the Total Outreach for Community Health (TORCH) of the Cebu Institute of Medicine (CIM), the Cebu Relief and Rehabilitation Center, Inc. (CRRC) and the local government unit of Carcar City. About 220 boys from Barangays Valencia, Buenavista , Calidngan and Bolinawan were circumcised by students and alumni of the CIM who are members of the TORCH.



The third operation tuli was held in the rural barangay of Mahagbu in the Municipality of Trinidad, Bohol on April 26. Youth from Trinidad together with staff members of the VPHCS served more than 60 boys. Blood sugar testing was also done.