94 residents benefit from NWU Medical-Dental Mission

 

  
94 residents of Barangay 22 Catuguing, San Nicolas, Ilocos Norte, availed of free health care services during the Northwestern University’s Medical and Dental Mission held last February 15, 2020. 26 non-teaching staff members and 26 students from the university volunteered in the activity. Ms. Rowena A. Badua and Mr. Theodore V. Mamaclay, representatives from the Local Government Unit of San Nicolas, also supported the endeavor.

Spearheaded by the Research, Community Extension and Agricultural Integrated Development (RCEAID), this institutional community extension program was conducted in partnership with the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office, Provincial Government of Ilocos Norte- Provincial Health Office, and the Local Government of San Nicolas. It was a follow-up activity to the extension program of the College of Allied Health Sciences (CAHS) last November 31, 2019 with the theme “HEALTH EMPOWERMENT PROGRAM: Salun-at Ti Bagi, Pagsayaatan Ti Umili.”

The mission featured free dental consultations, tooth extraction, medical check-up, provision of medicines and vitamins, and random blood sugar sampling.

  
While registration was on-going, Dr. Pedrico Chelle Calaycay, University Dentist, taught the residents proper oral hygiene and proper brushing.

Other lectures were also conducted as the constituents were on queue for their tooth extraction with Dr. Calaycay, and medical consultation with NWU’s physician, Dr. Emma Joy Bareng. The university’s Master of Arts in Nursing students shared information about health care, proper handwashing to fight COVID-19, and ways to prevent hypertension and diabetes. They also led fun ice-breakers for the young constituents.

  
“It was a nice decision I made to join this activity. I realized what Northwestern University contributed. I am so proud of all the people behind this mission because they were able to project the core values of the university,” said Meynard Castro, Vice-President (Internal) of the Supreme Student Council, and one of the student volunteers.