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 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.