VOH Health Team Equips Volunteers

“Bakit ngayon lang?” (Why only now?) asked Lilia Cepe of Taguig as she expressed gratitude for the wealth of information and the training she gained since she became a Visions of Hope (VOH) community health volunteer.

Lilia is one of 51 community health volunteers mentored by VOH doctors and nurses so that they are able to conduct lectures on several health-related topics in communities where the Center for Community Transformation works. Some of the health volunteers were also taught how to take blood pressure as well as read blood sugar level, body temperature, and body weight using basic medical equipment.

VOH community health volunteers from Caloocan City show their 
certificates after attending a VOH training on tuberculosis in March. 
Health training sessions such as this enable volunteers to train 
others in their community. (Photo by the VOH health team)  

In 2012, VOH health volunteers led 440 training sessions on cancer awareness, oral health, tuberculosis, asthma and pneumonia, family planning, leptospirosis, anemia and leukemia, diabetes and hypertension, eye diseases, proper nutrition, and, dengue and malaria. The lectures were held in poor communities in Metro Manila, Rizal, Laguna, Cavite, Cabanatuan City, Angeles City, Davao, General Santos City, Malungon, and Cotabato.   

The VOH health team recognizes the volunteers’ contribution in spreading health information. "The role these volunteers play in saving lives in poor neighborhoods is significant," said Dr. John Tabije, Peer Servant for VOH Health Care Program.  "Those who attend the lectures will be able to recognize symptoms of dreaded diseases immediately and hopefully seek medical help before it's too late, they will understand the importance of taking medicine as scheduled, and will generally be more knowledgeable of the illnesses that can affect them and their families." 

During a Christmas fellowship on December 13, 2012,  Juditha Jordan of Las Pinas was honored for conducting the most number of health lectures in 2012 --  11 lectures attended by a total of 191 participants.  "Sagot sa panalangin ko ang pagiging bahagi ng VOH" (My involvement with VOH is an answer to prayer), Lilia Cepe said during the same activity.

Aside from training community health volunteers, the VOH health team holds clinic consultations, medical and dental missions, Operation Tuli (circumcision), feeding, and pap smear and blood sugar tests, among others.