As coordinator for Gawad Kalusugan in GK Baseco, the Mu Sigma Phi Fraternity conducted community health activities last March 30, 2011 in cooperation with the US Embassy. Some 300 children, household heads, and health care volunteers participated in the OPLAN Sukat at Timbang, Deworming, and Health Interactive Sessions on Sanitation and Hygiene. Truly, the kapitbahayan tradition is strong and proud in GK Baseco!

Three parallel programs were conducted that day: Community Infrastructure Program (for painting, fencing, and landscaping houses), Child and Youth Development Program (storytelling, art class, and feeding program for the youth), and Gawad Kalusugan. Alongside the eager and spirited Mu Sigma Phi volunteers were US Embassy consuls, Filipino employees, and diplomatic families, as well as other college students from the Manila area.

The event was kicked off by performances from the SIGA and SIBOL youth groups of GK Baseco and introductory speeches by GK Founder Tony Meloto and representatives from the US Embassy. The visitors were also given a brief tour of the GK Baseco area, which currently has 900 houses spread over 54 hectares.

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The Gawad Kalusugan Program started at 9 AM, with the OPLAN Sukat at Timbang that hoped to gather baseline anthropometrics for the children in GK Baseco. This information will be filed in the fledgling Baseco clinic that has only recently been renovated to house better and more complete medical equipment and paraphernalia. This information will also guide future endeavors against malnutrition.

Through generous sponsors, Mebendazole was given to children aged 2 years and older during the Deworming Session. As was revealed by medical missions last January 2011, GK Baseco had a high prevalence of intestinal parasitism. This Deworming is one method of addressing that pressing health concern, as well as complementing the fight against malnutrition.

In the afternoon, the Health Interactive Session on Sanitation and Hygiene (first conceptualized and conducted in San Juan, Metro Manila last February) communicated vital public health information to the residents of GK Baseco so that they become responsible and equipped to care for their own health. Entertaining skits and interactive lecturettes conveyed concepts such as germs, potable drinking water, and the importance of handwashing.

After a rewarding day of serving the GK Baseco community, Vice Consul Farid Mohamed went on to write:

"I just wanted to thank you as well as your volunteers for the kind hospitality and great program you offered us at the village last Wednesday. Our Health and Teaching group was particularly impressed with the level of dedication we saw from Daniel, Marvin, as well as from the many volunteers who helped us pull off a successful morning session. The friendliness and embrace with which parents met us, and the particular interest they've taken to have their little ones measured, weighed, and de-wormed, was only matched with their keenness to listen to our nutritional recommendations, and general hygiene advice. As earlier discussed with you during the inspection visit, then with Daniel and Marvin at the event, our group includes several healthcare professionals, who felt particularly blessed with the opportunity to be of service to this under-served community; they would seriously consider future cooperation and potential volunteer opportunities with Gawad Kalinga."

With the help of our generous and selfless partner advocates, Mu Sigma Phi certainly looks forward with eagerness and optimism to future Gawad Kalusugan endeavors to uplift the health system in GK Baseco. ALL FOR THE GLORY!

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