Medical students of the Total Outreach for Community Health (TORCH) of the Cebu Institute of Medicine (CIM) rendered medical services with staff of the Visayas Primary Healthcare Services, Inc. in Sitio Back of Matimco, Barangay Subangdaku, Mandaue City last June 5.
More than 25 patients were served in the outreach program of the student organization of CIM. Services included blood pressure determination, blood sugar testing and medical consultations.
The activity was organized in coordination with the local residents association, the Kaming Lumulupyo Walay Sandigan (KALUWASAN).
The community of more than 150 households is located in Ouano Avenue in the Reclamation Area in Mandaue City. The VPHCS has developed a community-based health program (CBHP) in the community in partnership with the KALUWASAN, which has trained community health workers (CHWs) to deliver basic preventive, promotive and curative primary health care services to the residents who are mostly urban poor settlers.
The community was also the beneficiary of a project funded by the Asmae- Association Soeur Emmanuelle from March 2008 – December 2010. https://vphcs.org/building-community-based-health-programs-empowering-communities-on-health/. The project is presented in a report, https://vphcs.org/pdf/2015/asmae%20project%20final%20report.pdf
The students planned to continue their services in the community before classes open in July.