Monday morning was spent cleaning up, packing up and checking in at the hotel we were staying in during the project. We had lunch at the University of Cebu (the main venue for our team-building activities, seminars and workshops) and as we gobbled up our Jollibee Chickenjoy, we also did some planning on the activities for the days to come.

Erin and Lauren prepared some icebreakers, which I personally enjoyed as I got to know the other participants more. I could not help but feel intrigued and interested with the fact that 20 people, from different parts of the world, are here in the Philippines to help the country (and Cebu in particular) with their “wormy” problem. Knowing “2 truths and a lie” and things that people like was quite fun, but learning about each one’ s reason for being in the project was a quite a surreal experience. Surreal because lots of Filipinos are apathetic, if not ignorant with such issues (I am Filipino by the way) and here are people flying in from different corners of the world to help with the problem! Surreal, impressive, inspiring.

After getting to know each other more, Dr. Belizario of the the National Institute of Health then shared with us his knowledge about the issue on gastrointestinal worms. Quite memorable (and disturbing!) were the pictures shown by Dr. Belizario ( I can still hear the “Euhs” and “Yucks” in my head). Oh, and who would forget wanting to bite onto the “Amazing Aloha” Jollibee burgers while the Ascaris sample was being passed around? Haha! Kidding aside, I think that Dr. Belizario definitely provided us with essential information and clarified our queries to the best of his knowledge.

—Til the next blog, Imon

I’d like to quickly provide some background on SEALNet’s project in the Philippines this year.

The Problem

• Gastrointestinal Parasite (GIP) is one of the most prevalent yet neglected problems in the Philippines. As a result, children’s education is adversely affected when GIP causes them to be absent from school. Consequently, this may hold them back in school.
• The community has a limited understanding of the nature of the issue and prevention and curative methods, thus exacerbating this vicious cycle between the disease—GIP—and school truancy.

Objectives and Approaches

• Create a pilot program that effectively increases awareness about gastrointestinal worms in the local community by working with 15 local high school students from University of Philippines High School to:
  • Design a package of printed media tailored to the local community.
  • Organize a weeklong event for at least one school that will raise awareness about the issue and thus generate positive responses to the administration of anti-worm medication.
  • Choose other appropriate media which will best raise awareness about this issue.

• Design and implement a parallel project that focuses on improving hygienic facilities.
• Document and prepare this work for mass distribution and future programs around the country for use by related agencies.
• Inform parents and guardians of the positive effects of the medication process.
• Engage the local youth and local NGOs to sustain our efforts.

Local Partners

• The National Institute of Health (NIH) is an initiative of the University of Philippines and is based at its Manila campus. It is one of the leading figures in pushing for the de-worming of children, with pilot programs being implemented around the country.  This project will also be implemented in close collaboration with the Cebu City Mayor’s office.