SULU (Mindanao Examiner / Feb. 18, 2013) – “A healthy community is a peaceful society,” this was proven true by the collaborative and strengthened efforts of the security sectors, local government units, health workers and academicians in Sulu province in the southern Philippines at the resounding success of the first-ever six-day “Medical Seminar” or MedSem which culminated on Monday in Talipao town.
A total of 31 health workers, volunteers were trained as the first pioneering Class 2013. The MedSem’s thrust deals on enhancing the capacity of medical health workers in Sulu who shall provide health services, among others, to the grassroots in the different parts of the province and in return they would train ordinary citizens from barangays and sitios so they can provide medical health care services even without their formal education.
The initiative was a consolidated effort of the Talipao Municipal Government, Marine Battalion Landing Team 2, Community Relations Training, U.S. Task Force, Notre Dame of Jolo College, U.S. Medics, AFP Medical Workers, and Philippine Marine Medics.
The participants were given lectures and demos on the first few days and were able to conceptualize the conduct of the “All-in-One Community Outreach,” that included Medical and Dental Civic Action Programs, Free Haircut, Free Circumcision, Distribution of School Supplies, Playground Sets, Children’s Games, held at Barangay Kagay in Talipao and benefitted more then 3,000 recipients.
Islamic injunctions on the essence of a healthy community were also lectured by the religious sector representative Ustadz Gabir Kasim (Tumikang Sama-Sama/Sulu Ulama Council for Peace and Development).
Messages of support from the different line agencies were also rendered underscoring the relevance of sustaining a healthy community as keys to living harmoniously. The All-in-One Community Outreach was a product of the MEDSEM and was made possible also by the support of partners for peace – Talipao Municipal Government, Marine Battalion Landing Team 2, Lifeline Foundation, Kusug Batah Sug, Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue, The Asia Foundation, CRT, among others.
The MEDSEM paved the way in establishing the ties and relationship between the security sectors, medical health workers, local government units, academicians and other stakeholders in the province, who in one way or the other, showed their commitment to attaining not only a peaceful but healthy Sulu province as well.
MEDSEM proved that the government and the people could work hand-in-hand in the quest for the elusive peace in the province of Sulu through the conduct of healthful activities with the main objective of living in a peaceful and healthy community.
The challenge is to replicate this noble worthy endeavour to other parts of the province. With what the MEDSEM Pioneer Class has proven, certainly these efforts would be all worth it. “Bang masambu in pamaranan, awun kasambuhan sin lawm Kawman.” (Mindanao Examiner. Nash Abduhadi)
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