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.
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.
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.
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.
