Medical program for B'laan residents


MALUNGON, Sarangani, Philippines – A group of nursing students from the Notre Dame of Dadiangas University (NDDU) was deployed to a remote village here to conduct a medical outreach program to the B’laan residents for the period of one month.

NDDU clinical instructress Lodar Dagoy-Escobillo said some 20 nursing students from the NDDU College of Nursing have been deployed at Sitio Flume in Barangay Datal Tampal to conduct health care and sanitation outreach campaign to pre-dominantly B’laan residents in the area.
“The medical outreach campaign is not just for the nursing students to comply with the practicum for nursing care management but also strengthens the partnership among the local government unit, private sector, and the local stakeholders in the delivery of efficient health services.” Escobillo said.
“This project does not solely intend to enhance the skills, knowledge, and attitude of student nurses, but was likewise aimed at fostering various community involvement activities, the importance of proper sanitation, health care, and all other concepts and principles that are stated under the school’s Community Organizing Participatory Action Research (COPAR) agenda,” Escobillo, said in a letter to Malungon Mayor Reynaldo F. Constantino.
Escobillo said among the activities that will be taken up during the month-long community outreach program includes, leadership seminar, reweighing of young children, feeding program for children with ages zero to six years old, the “Pasine sa Plaza” seminar for mothers and women with ages 15 to 35 for the organization of a rural improvement council, launching of reproductive health education, health education on food handling and proper nutrition, and the launching of basketball and volleyball competitions among local residents.
As this developed, Constantino lauded the NDDU nursing college administrators for choosing this town as the beneficiary of their outreach program to help the local government in the efficient delivery of health services in far-flung villages.
“I am always grateful for this kind of undertaking, which involves the improvement of the health condition of my people,” Constantino said.
“The presence of university students roving around my municipality serves as an indicator that Malungon is now considered the safest place to visit in Sarangani,” he added.
Constantino said this town has gradually freed from its negative impression as the former sanctuary of lawless groups and cattle rustlers in the past.
He said this was even hailed by Sarangani Governor Miguel Dominguez who cited this town as the ideal place for investment and business opportunities.

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