The VPHCS recently hosted the exposure and volunteer work program of two medical students from Belgium.
Leentje Moons and Marie-Elisabeth Frisque, medical students of Katholieke Universiteit Leuven in Belgium visited different urban and rural communities with community-based health programs (CBHPs) in Cebu and Bohol last April 19 – May 9.
They did medical consultations, integrated with the residents in the communities, and learned about common health problems and different aspects of the country including the health care system, education system, politics, and way of living. They also interacted with community health workers and worked with them to render medical services as part of the CBHP goal to promote the people’s basic right to health.
The communities that Leentje and Marie-Elisabeth visited included Ermita, Pasil and St. Mary Grace in Talamban, Cebu City; Canjulao in Lapu-lapu City; Tangke in Talisay City; Caluasan, Dagohoy and Sto. Nino, San Miguel in Bohol. They also saw how brooms are being made from palm leaves in Labogon, Mandaue City, visited the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center (VSMMC) and the Cebu Institute of Medicine – Community Medico-Social Services (CIM-CMSS) in Paknaan, Mandaue City.
Leentje and Marie-Elisabeth said they shall pass on their experiences to others in Belgium and to motivate them to come to the Philippines to do voluntary work as well.
