Emerson C. Soriano & Dr. Gina L. Casi
Last December 10, 2024, the organizing team headed by the College of Nursing and School of Midwifery community Extension Coordinator, Mr. Allan Guinanghan presented the Medical Mission Plan to selected Nursing and Midwifery students and Faculty for the success of the Mission. The organizing team discussed the conduct and flow of the Medical Mission, the tasking of students in each station and the needed logistics.
December 14, 2024 – The preparation and logistics team headed by CONSM Community Extension Coordinator Mr. Allan Guinanghan together with selected faculty members and student get ready to travel to Barangay Pongayan to prepare the venue. The team where warmly greeted by the school teachers lead by Mrs. Maria Elena M. Dugos, Master Teacher 2 who have helped the team settle and arranged for the location of consultation rooms and pharmacy.
December 15,2024 – The Day of Giving
As early as 6:30 am, school children already started arriving together with their school teachers, barangay officials of Pongayan and Barangay Health workers gather at the covered court. These was followed by the arrival of the rest of the Baguio Central University – College of Nursing and School of Midwifery Medical Mission team composed of nursing and midwifery students accompanied by other faculty members, the volunteer physicians, donors and partner agencies like the Philippine National Police, Commission on Higher Education – Cordillera Administrative Region team headed by Dr. Bernadette Pal-ec and Ms. Geraldine Orasing of the Philippine Science High School Cordillera Administrative Region. Breakfast was served for the Medical Mission Team and further continued the preparation on each assigned station.
A Zumba exercises prepared by the students led by one of the second-year nursing students started the morning activity where everybody participated in. The participants enjoyed the energizing activity that further fueled their excitement.
The registration of participants, vital signs taking and assessment of clients continued while waiting for the different stations finish their preparations. The Barangay officials and the Barangay Health Workers also volunteered in helping the medical mission team in the registration and preparing the clients for check-up and for the other services.
After the influx of participants, the Medical Mission Program started with a prayer led by no other than the dean of the College of Nursing and School of Midwifery – Dr. Gina L. Casi. This was followed by the singing of the national anthem led by the Student Governement Governer of CONSM, Ms. Justine Pugong. The welcome address was delivered by Mrs. Cecille Bawas the Barangay Kagawad of Pongayan, where in behalf of the Barangay Captain (who was at the time in an important meeting) and the members of the Brangay Council and the whole community of Barangay Ponganay would like to extend their heartful gratitude to the whole Baguio Central University specially to the College of Nursing and School of Midwifery, partner agencies, the volunteer physicians and the donors for bringing a very meaningful gift to their small community. Dr. Gina L. Casi also gave the background and objectives of the Medical Mission – of giving back to the community and for the selfless health service to the people. Ms. Joanna Marie M. Abratique, nursing student, also gave a short speech on her experience during her community immersion to Pongayan and what prompted her to come back and spearheaded the whole medical mission.
