Medical mission in Bohol

In its continuing response to the October 15 earthquake and Typhoon Yolanda disasters, the Visayas Primary Health Care Services, rendered another medical and psychosocial support services mission for survivors of the calamities. 

Geriatric patients wait for their turn to be checked up.

 Dalaguete MHO Dr. Jose Edgar Alonso examines a patient.

The mission was held last March 15 in Barangay Cambitoon, a far-flung barangay in the town of Inabanga, Bohol where the epicenter of the earthquake hit. More than 250 patients availed of medical check consultations and medicines and psychosocial counseling. Some patients came from neighboring mountain barangays. 

The medical and psychosocial services mission was supported by the Fil-Am Center for Community Health and Development (FACCHD), Task Force Carabao, and Action Medeor. It was held in coordination with the Nagkahiusang Mag-uuma sa Inabanga (NAMAINA), the local government unit of Inabanga, and the Barangay Council of Cambitoon 

Cebu Institute of Medicine medical intern 

Giancarlo Bascon sees a patient.

Velez Hospital PGI Dr. Nikko dela Cruz and 

Cebu Institute of Medicine medical intern 

Karina Borromeo see patients.

 Cebu Velez Hospital PGI Vaughn Cesar Edulan 

explains to a patient her treatment.

The medical and psychosocial team was composed of VPHCS staff and volunteers Dr. Petty Orbeta de Castro, Dr. Lilia Hernandez, Dr. Norbert Enders, Dr, Jose Edgar Alonso, Dr. Erlinda Posadas, Dr. Grace Molina, Irish Grace Ramirez, R.N., Cebu Velez General Hospital post-graduate interns Dr. Vaughn Cesar Edulan, Nikko dela Cruz and JP Sepe, Gullas College of Medicine medical interns Irving Grecia and Stacey Lape, Cebu Institute of Medicine medical interns Karina Monica Borromeo, Giancarlo Bascon, Christine Escarpe and Charles Mark Loquere, and nursing students belonging to the Student Alliance for Community Health Services (SACHS) based in Tagbilaran City. 

A pose of the medical team.

Medical mission in Leyte

As it expands its medical services for families affected by Typhoon Yolanda outside the Cebu province, the Visayas Primary Health Care Services, conducted a medical and psychosocial support services mission in Barangay Dinaayan, a far-flung mountain barangay in the municipality of Burauen last March 8, 9.
 

Barangay Dinaayan is a rural community in Burauen, Leyte 

which was affected by typhoon Yolanda.

More than 250 patients from Dinaayan and neighboring mountain barangays of Damulo-an, Villa Corazon and Buenavista availed of free medical check-ups, consultations and medicines and psychosocial counseling.

Medical interns of the Cebu Institute 

of Medicine examine patients.

Burauen is a first class municipality in the central part of Leyte, about two hours travel time from Tagbilaran. It was badly hit by Typhoon Yolanda; coconut trees and crops were destroyed and houses were damaged. There were however no reported deaths.

More than 250 patients from the four 

mountain barangays were seen.

The mission was supported by the Fil-Am Center for Community Health and Development (FACCHD) and Action Medeor. It was held in coordination with the Tabang Sinirangang Bisayas and Health Empowerment and Action in Samar and Leyte, two non-government organizations based in Eastern Visayas. 

The medical and psychosocial team was composed of VPHCS staff and volunteers Dr. Petty Orbeta de Castro, Dr. Lilia Hernandez, Dr. Norbert Enders, Dr, Jose Edgar Alonso, Dr. Erlinda Posadas, Dr. Grace Molina, Dr. Oliver Gimenez, Irish Grace Ramirez, R.N., Lourdes Geolin, Crescenciana Labitad, Angelie Marangga, Boy Tamundo, Katrina Buena Balansa, Jade Ann Vega, Pearl Angeli Templado and Cebu Institute of Medicine medical interns and Gullas College of Medicine medical interns.    

Balay Kahimsog accepts bookings

The Balay Kahimsog continues to accept bookings for seminars, retreats and other gatherings of government agencies, schools, and non-government organizations at affordable prices.

The building overlooks the Visayan Sea 

and the magnificent mountains of Bohol.

The Balay Kahimsog is a concrete two-storey building located at the top of the hills of Barangay Cambanac, Baclayon, overlooking the quiet sea on one side and the magnificent mountains on the other side. Surrounded by trees, vegetables and flowers, it is reached by any vehicle about 15 minutes ride through scenic rolling hills from the main highway of Baclayon, about seven kilometers from Tagbilaran City.

It is a training center for health workers in community-based health programs (CBHPs) in Central Visayas region, and a resource center for primary health care and alternative forms of medicine including herbal medicine. 

A spacious open-air conference hall that could accommodate 150 persons occupies the entire second floor.

The open spacious second floor 

can accommodate up to 150 persons.

Its first floor has a dormitory that could accommodate twenty persons, an air-conditioned room for two to three persons, an office, a kitchen, a dining area and a library. 

The dining area

The lobby, hallway and library.

The dormitory

To generate income for the programs and services of the CBHPs, the center has been accepting bookings. Proceeds also support medical and dental missions, health skills trainings and alternative medical practices such as herbal medicine preparation, ventusa, acupuncture and homeopathy.

Built primarily from funds generated by the Fil-Am Center for Community Health and Development (FACCHD) in Pleasanton, Califonia, U.S.A, the construction took nearly four years. It started operation in the second quarter 2009 and has since then accepted bookings from different groups.

With its fresh air and magnificent view, it is also a perfect place for just staying over for tranquility, a brief respite from the hustles and bustles of city life. 

Medical mission held in Maribojoc

A medical mission was held by the VPHCS in Barangay Tinibgan, Maribojoc last February 25. 

The mission was organized together with the Tinibgan Farmers’ Organization, the barangay council of Tinibgan, local government unit of Maribojoc, Students’ Alliance for Community Health Services (SACHS), and Task Force Carabao – Germany.

Services included general medical consultations and physical examination of children which included determination of their weights,  heights and visual acuity, check-up of general body systems and dental status, and urinalysis.

VPHCS staff and volunteer doctors included VPHCS dentist Dr. Petty Orbeta de Castro, Dr. Grace Molina, Dr. Jose Edgar Alonso, Dr. Lilia Hernandez, Lourdes Geolin, Linda de Castro, and Maribojoc Municipal Health Office Dr. Rey Belderol.   Nursing student members of the SACHS also rendered services in the mission.

VPHCS dentist Dr. Petty Orbeta de Castro checks on the dental status of the children.

VPHCS volunteer and pediatrician Dr. Lilia Hernandez checks on the health of the children.

 

VPHCS volunteer and Dalaguete Municipal Health Officer Dr.  Jose Edgar Alonso with a patient.

Maribojoc Municipal Health Officer Dr. Rey Belderol with a patient.

As a result of the physical examination of the children, those with nutritional status below normal and those with visual, dental, and probable kidney problems were identified.  Those with other illnesses  and acute problems were also properly managed.

The medical mission team.

Generally, the problem of malnutrition both wasting and stunting was noted.  Another problem identified was dental caries. It is a reality that dentists are very rare in rural Bohol;  a government dentist serves five or more than five municipalities at a time so that it is only once a week that a dentist goes to a certain municipality.  However, he renders services only in the  municipal health center where there are dental facilities and does not go to the barangay health centers.

As a result  of the examination, a  proposal was made to the Fil-Am Center for Community Health and Development based in Pleasanton, California,  U.S.A. through its President of the Board of Trustees Dr. Hernandez, to support a project to render services in Tinibgan and other areas of the VPHCs,  specifically to address malnutrition, vitamin and iron deficiencies, and dental problems among the children.

The services shall include monthly health education, dental services to include tooth extraction, prophylaxis and filling of cavities, giving of medicines such as iron tablets, Vitamin A tablets, deworming agents and for treatment of diseases identified, and a nutrition program.   Health education shall be conducted among the  parents of the children particularly on child health care, nutrition and growth monitoring. More sustainable nutrition programs such as backyard vegetable gardens and animal raising shall be developed with the farmers’ organizations.