More than 1,500 farmers from four mountain barangays in Guihulngan City, Negros Oriental were served in medical, surgical and dental mission in January 30 – 31, 2013.
The residents converged in Barangay Planas for the two-day mission which was a joint activity of the Visayas Primary Health Care Services, Community Empowerment Resource Network (CERNET), and the Filipino – Ministry of the Diocese of San Bernardino, California, U.S.A. who comes to the Philippines every year to “trace their Filipino roots through an exposure and immersion program in depressed communities.”
The mission is an offshoot of the psychosocial counselling and disaster education conducted by VPHCS and CERNET last December 13 – 20, 2012in four mountain barangays in Guihulngan and La Libertad, affected by the earthquake and landslide tragedy on February 6, 2012; most of the victims had medical problems and dental needs that need attention.
The activity was also held in coordination with the Kahugpongan sa mga Mag-uuma sa Planas (KASAMARA), Barangay Council of Planas, Guihulngan Mayor Ernesto Reyes, Negros Oriental Gov. Roel Degamo, Hon. Rep. Jocelyn Limkaichong, and Negros Oriental Chapter of the Philippine Dental Society.
The VPHCS team included Dr. Lilia Hernandez, Dr. Grace Molina, Dr. Maria Jecyl Amaya-Radam, Dr. Cheryl Dayanan-Pascual, Irish Ramirez, R.N., Lourdes Geolin, Ma. Antoniella Codeneira and Dr. Norbert Enders. Dr. Oliver Gimenez, CERNET executive director also joined the medical team which included doctors and nurses of the San Bernardino group. Dentists from the Negros Oriental Chapter of the Philippine Dental Society provided the dental services. Medical personnel from the Guihulngan District Hospital and Guihulngan City Health Center provided additional manpower for the mission.
