PIUC conducts outreach in Loo, Bugiuas
 SIFernando- 04.24.06

       The strong bond that connects the Benguet State University (BSU), St. Louis University (SLU), and the Flemish Universities in Belgium, better known as the Philippine Inter-University Cooperation (PIUC) achieved another milestone with the conduct of a medical mission cum outreach activity last March 12 at the BSU Buguias Campus in Loo, Buguias, Benguet.

     The activity is part of the Health Environment Project of the PIUC headed by Project Coordinators Dr. Carlito Laurean (for BSU) and Dr. Gaudelia Reyes (for SLU).

     Since the partnership, which is being funded by the Vlaamse Inter-Universitaire Raad (VLIR), started in 1993, the PIUC has conducted a total of three medical missions in different areas in the province of Benguet , specifically in the municipality of Kapangan and at the BSU Main Campus in La Trinidad. Loo, one of the six barangays of Buguias municipality, is the fourth outreach destination of the project.

     Loo Punong Barangay Delino Dampilag Sr. welcomed the contingent composed of medical and dental practitioners, as well as agricultural support service volunteers. On behalf of all the residents and other barangay officials, Dampilag expressed gratitude to the volunteers who traveled all the way from the city to extend their services to his barangay.

     Both medical and agricultural services started at 10AM . The medical group has listed more than 400 patients served until 7PM .

     Dr. Laurean said the activity also looked at the effect of farming practices on the health of farmers and family members in terms of pesticide use. Members of the medical team asked the consent of the residents for blood extraction to test for colloristinae. The test is used to diagnose the effect of pesticides to the human body.

     The medical team, which composed mostly of volunteers from SLU, provided medical services such as urinalysis, fecalysis, blood typing, colloristinae testing, circumcisions, drug dispensing, and general check-up.

     Dr. Benjamin Vergara, Dr. Melvin Hipol and Dr. Arnulfo Fulgencio, resident doctors from the SLU Sacred Heart Hospital conducted patient counseling with assistance from Clinical Instructor Lawrence Caranto together with the nursing student volunteers from BSU.

     Prof. Susan Ong, Dean of the BSU College of Nursing provided Pap smear services in keeping with the celebration of March as Women's Month. More than 20 mothers availed themselves of this service and were given information about its importance.

     Meanwhile, the Baguio City Dental Association, headed by Dr. Raquel Ramos, provided dental services, which included tooth extraction and orientation on the proper care of teeth and gums.

     For BSU, it took care of the agriculture-related services like soil analysis and plant disease diagnosis. Several farmers took this opportunity to consult with BSU professors and specialists who joined the outreach like Dr. Luciana Villanueva for plant disease and nematology and Prof. Jose Balaoing for soil testing.

     Farmers had the chance to see through the microscope the pests that feed on their crops. They were also oriented on how to get rid of pests with the help of other insects (natural enemy of pests) and how to regulate the use of pesticides.

     Dr. Julia Solimen, the BSU Director for Extension Services, took charge of interviewing farmers for extension support services and farming techniques that would later be correlated with the farmers' health status.

     Asked of his impression of the activity, Dr. Laurean said it was worth the trip because of the positive feedback they received from the residents. He mentioned that full or complete dosages for medication were also given to those who availed themselves of the medical services.

     He added that they will be conducting additional support services to farmers tentatively scheduled on April 28. These will include the conduct of seminar-workshops on organic farming, pesticide use, and bio-fumigation. It will also be during this next visit that they will distribute the laboratory results to concerned residents.