Medical missions for survivors of the Oct. 15 earthquake and Typhoon Yolanda

In response to the October 15 earthquake and Typhoon Yolanda disasters, the Visayas Primary Health Care Services, rendered medical services to survivors of the calamites. 

Medical and psychosocial support services were held during a relief mission on Nov. 30 in Barangay Bahi, Loon and Dec. 1 in Barangay Triple Union in Catigbian in Bohol, which were affected by the earthquake. More than 400 patients availed of medical check consultations and medicines and more than 100 survivors mostly children also had psychosocial therapy.

 Dr. Erlinda Posadas treats a child with cough in Loon mission.

VSMMC PGI Neil Wahing checks up a patient 

for anemia in Catigbian mission.

The medical services were part of a relief mission organized by the Community Empowerment Resource Network, Inc. (CERNET) with the support of the Diakonie Katastrophenhilfe (Protestant Agency for Diakonia and Development) based in Germany. CERNET executive director Dr. Oliver Gimenez led the team of the relief mission. Residents of the two and neighboring barangay were given relief goods including rice, canned goods, water and other basic necessities. 

PGIs of VSMMC check up patients in Loon medical mission.

A volunteer psychologist counselor 

in play therapy in Catigbian mission.

The medical missions were supported by the Task Force Carabao – Germany and the Panaghugpong sa mga Mag-uuma ug Mangingisda sa Loon and the Hugpong sa Mag-uumang Bol-anon. 

The medical team was composed of VPHCS staff and volunteers Dr. Erlinda Posadas, Irish Grace Ramirez, R.N., Lourdes Geolin, Dalaguete MHO Dr. Jose Edgar Alonso, Dr. Ma. Jecyl Amaya-Radam, Dr. Roentgen Amaya, Dr. Grace Molina, Edgar Gahisan, R.N., Mark Balingit, R.N., 13 post-graduate interns of the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center (VSMMC) led by Dr. Neil Wahing, six volunteer psychologists led by VSMMC psychologist Ma. Antonella Codeneira, and nursing students belonging to the Student Alliance for Community Health Services (SACHS) based in Tagbilaran City. 

A pose of the medical and relief team in Bahi, Loon.

A pose of the medical and relief team in Catigbian.

The VPHCS also sent a medical team to a medical mission held in barangays Tindog, Don Virgilio, Panugwawan and Lamintak Sur in Medellin on December 4-7, 2013 which was severely affected by Typhoon Yolanda. The medical services were held together with distribution of relief goods for survivors of the typhoon. The relief mission was spearheaded by the Filipino-Americans US based health professionals. More than 1,400 families benefitted from the relief mission. VPHCS team included Irish Grace Ramirez, R.N., Lourdes Geolin and Edgar Gahisan, R.N.

 A barangay health worker attends to patients 

in Lamintak Sur, Medellin.

VPHCS volunteer nurse attends to patients 

in Lamintak Sur, Medellin.

Another team was also sent by the VPHCS to a medical mission in the municipality of Orrmoc and in Barangay Lonoy, Kananga, Leyte. The medical mission was organized by the Samahang Operation Sagip (SOS) which is a medical program of the Council for Health and Development (CHD) that responds to calamities. More than 50 doctors, nurses, psychologists and volunteers rendered medical services for more than hundreds of residents who were affected by Typhoon Yolanda. The VPHCS team included Dr. Jose Edgar Alonso, Irish Grace Ramirez, R.N. and Clay Ordona.

Dr. Jose Edgar Alonso checks up 

a patient in Kananga, Leyte.

 

 Patients in Lonoy elementary school medical mission. 

 Volunteers of the Samahang Operasyong Sagip in Leyte mission.

Pencil for a Cause

The Students Alliance for Community Health Services (SACHS) based in Tagbilaran City, with staff of the Visayas Primary Health Care Services led by VPHCS Bohol project coordinator Dr. Grace Molina conducted the 5th Pencil for a Cause Project in Barangay Tinibgan, Municipality of Maribojoc, Bohol last June 8. 

The annual activity of the SACHS was held in the Tinibgan Elementary School in coordination with the Tinibgan Farmers Organization.

A total of 110 children of families belonging to the organization received school supplies including pencils, ball pens, notebook, pad paper, eraser, sharpener, paste, scissors, white plastic envelope, and ruler. 

SACHS members gave a lecture and demonstration on personal hygiene and proper hand washing to the students before the distribution of the school supplies. Parlor games were also conducted later for the children who all had fun and enjoyment. 

The activity is a yearly project of the SACHS which was organized by the VPHCS in Bohol. The student organization with members coming from different nursing schools including University of Bohol and Holy Name University in Tagbilaran City has been very active in medical missions and community outreach programs initiated by the VPHCS.

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.

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.

Medical mission in Panglao

More than 150 children were medically examined last March 26 by VPHCS staff and volunteer doctors, nurses and nursing students in Barangay Doljo, Panglao, Bohol.

The medical examination of the children included the determination of their weights, heights and visual acuity and check-up of general body systems and dental status. Urinalysis using dipsticks with eight parameters was also done. As a result of the examinations, children with below-normal nutritional status and those with visual, dental, and probable kidney function problems were identified. Those with other illnesses and acute problems were also properly managed.

The medical team included Dr. Larsen Omolon, Dr. Glency Sue Senires, Dr. Grace Molina, Mark Loyola, R.N., Lynsy Linao, R.N., Zane Omega, R.N., Cheryl Lisa Molina, R.N., Lina de Castro, and volunteer students of the Students Alliance for Community Health Services (SACHS).

Partners in the activity included the Nagkahiusang Doljoanon sa Panglao (NAGDOPA), Youth against Reclamation (YARE), barangay council of Doljo, local government unit (LGU) of Panglao, Fil-Am Center for Community Health and Development (FACCHD, U.S.A.), Action Solidarite Tiers Monde (ASTM), and the SACHS.

Nursing students donate school supplies

Students organized under the Students Alliance for Community Health Services (SACHS) based in Tagbilaran City recently held its Third Pencil for a Cause Project in its adopted barangay, Caluasan in the municipality of Dagohoy, Bohol.

Some 30 students of different nursing colleges in Tagbilaran City distributed school supplies last Oct. 30, 2010 to more than 200 children of families who are members of the Hugpong Mag-uuma sa San Miguel (HUMASA) (Farmers’ Association in San Miguel, Bohol) and the Mga Mag-uuma sa Lakalsanda Apektado sa Land Levelling (MALALA) (Farmers in Lakalsanda Affected by Land Levelling).


The yearly community outreach activity of the SACHS was held during the general assembly of the MALALA in the barangay hall of Caluasan. Barangay Captain Rey Luchana also shared an update of his recent trip to Japan regarding the ongoing opposition of the farmers’ organizations of the Malinao Dam Project that has worsened their economic situations.

Members of the SACHS have always served as volunteers and partners of the VPHCS in its various community outreach programs and medical missions in its community-based health programs areas.


Barangay Caluasan in Dagohoy and Barangay Sto. Nino in San Miguel are current project areas of the VPHCS in partnership with the Asian Community Trust (ACT) based in Japan.

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.