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.

Summer Integration Program held

Four nurses joined the Summer Integration Program (SIP) conducted by the Visayas Primary Health Care Services in the island barangay of Hilutungan, Cordova last June 4 – 6.

The SIP is a yearly activity that offers interested students and health professionals the chance to live with the communities , share their life experiences and render health services.

Nurses Zane Omega, Hanna Liza Lora, Arianne Rama, and Vernon Estrera lived with foster families during the three days, joined them in fishing and participated in their daily household chores. The nurses also conducted health education classes on control of acute respiratory infections and diarrheal diseases among the residents, mostly of whom are fisherfolks. The people’s organization Kahugpungan sa Gagmayng Mangingisda sa Hilutungan (KAGAMAHI) hosted the exposure program.


The nurses said that they learned to see their patients not merely as medical cases but as persons whose illness is deeply rooted in the social, economic and political spheres of our society. They realized that the people prioritize their economic needs more than their health needs. They also realized that as nurses, they can work together with the people’s organization to equip the residents with knowledge and skills on health so that they shall be empowered to attend to their health needs.


The island barangay is a beautiful tourist spot famous for its marine sanctuary. The residents subsist on fishing and guso (a type of edible algae) growing using crude fishing implements that give them barely enough income for their basic needs. Health services are direly lacking as exemplified by the lack of personnel and services in the barangay health center; the local midwife and municipal health officer of Cordova visit the island only once a month. Delivery is generally done by traditional birth attendants and the residents have to go to the mainland Cordova for their health needs, taking a pumpboat ride of P 30 for a way.

The SIP aims to develop among health students and professionals a critical awareness of the social determinants of health and to enhance their social responsibility and involvement.