Sixth Pencil for a Cause in Bohol

The Students Alliance for Community Health Services (SACHS) in Bohol launched its 6th Pencil for a Cause in Barangay Nueva Vida in Loon, Bohol last June 29, 2014. Beneficiaries of the activity were 120 school children from day care to grade 6 of the elementary school.

The activity was held together with the turn-over ceremony of a newly built classroom from the VPHCS to the Loon local government unit.

The activity is a yearly outreach project of the SACHS whose members are mostly nursing students of different schools in Tagbilaran City . They collected school supplies used by nursing graduates for the review and examination of the Nursing Board Licensure and solicited plastic envelope, paper, notebook, pencils, ball pens, erasers, sharpeners and rulers that were given to the children in the barangay elementary school.

After the distribution of the school supplies, SACHS members initiated parlor games. The winners were given special prizes and other children were given candies and biscuits. The children were so happy and did enjoy with the activity.

Operation circumcision held

More than 600 boys were served in the series of operation circumcision (tuli) organized and participated in by the Visayas Primary Health Care Services, Inc. in April and May.

VPHCS staff, volunteers and students of the Gullas College of Medicine rendered the annual summer services in eight communities. They were held in cooperation with the local people’s organizations, local government units (LGU) or other non-government organizations.

Students of Gullas College of Medicine 

in the St. Mary Grace, Talamban circumcision

They included the following, namely:

1. Baclayon, Bohol on April 10 with the LGU of Baclayon and Students Alliance for Community Health Services.

2. Medellin, Cebu - April 25-26 with the Perez Monasque Foundation.

3. Caluasan, Dagohoy, Bohol - April 30 with the local farmers’ organization.

4. Sitio St. Mary Grace, Talamban, Cebu City – May 4 with the St. Mary Grace Neighborhood Association.

5. Tangke, Talisay – May 6 with the Tangke United Fisherfolks Association.

6. Tipolo, Mandaue City – May 9 with the barangay council of Tipolo.

7. Inayawan, Cebu City – May 18 with the Gabriela – Inayawan chapter and Enfants du Mekong Foundation.

8. Bangkal, Lapu-lapu City – May 22 with the Justice and Peace Integrity of Creation – Integrated Development Center.

9. Kinatarcan island, Sta. Fe, Cebu - May 25-26 with the Sto. Nino Basilica Foundation.

 Circumcision in the town cultural center in Baclayon, Bohol

 Nearly 100 boys were served in Caluasan, Dagohoy

 Boys in St. Mary Grace. Talamban awaiting their turn

 Volunteers in the Tangke, Talisay circumcision

Circumcision in Tipolo, Mandaue City 

organized by the local government unit

Medical mission in Totolan, Dauis, Bohol

Nearly 100 children were rendered health services in a medical mission organized by the Visayas Primary Health Care Services (VPHCS) and the Nagkahiusang Mangigisda sa Totolan (NAMATO) (United Fisherfolks in Totolan) in Dauis, Bohol last July 24, 2010.

Volunteers Dr. Jose Edgar Alonso, Dr. Aira Baroro, five nurse members of the Students Alliance for Community Health Services (SACHS) in Tagbilaran City, a nursing graduate of the Cebu Doctors University Hospital and staff of the VPHCS led by Dr. Petty Orbeta-de Castro and Dr. Grace Molina rendered the services which included visual acuity, height and weight determination, urinalysis, dental check-up and medical check-up.




Totolan is a fishing community located in Dauis. It is one of the community-based health program (CBHP) areas of the VPHCS in a continuing project supported by the Action Solidarite Tiers Monde. It has a population of 3,626 or 330 households.