I am Rare. I am Limited.
Written by Gian Carlo Abellana, RN*
It has been two years now since we huddled the stress,
deadlines, busy schedules and less night life in college. I can barely recall
sleeping for an hour and then prepare myself for another hectic day. A lot of
people say that college life is full of twists and turns- a great roller coaster ride.
One thing I would not forget when I was still in college
is being part of the pioneering members of the Volunteer Youth Leaders for
Health- Philippines (VYLH-Philippines). The said organization aims to mobilize
youth towards health advocacies and among these are: Newborn Screening, Folic
Acid Supplementation Campaign, and Rare or Orphan Disorders. VYLH is a network
of leaders from different youth organizations based in universities and communities in the country. As part of the network, I was able to organize an
information drive amongst my fellow students, imparting them awareness to such
health issues in our country today. Remarkably, I did gained support from my
classmates, friends, family, supervising clinical instructors, program
coordinators, program dean and the rest of the populace in my university with
my vision as a VYLH member.
NBS ang Sagot! – Happy Feet partners with VYLH-UP Los Baños for NBS Advocacy
Written by VYLH-Philippines UP Los Baños*
With the presence of VYLH-Philippines at the University of the Philippines Los Baños, a group of senior BS Development Communication (DevComm) students was inspired to develop a communication campaign for pregnant mothers of Barangay Mayondon, Los Baños, Laguna. The said communication campaign was part of the requirements in DEVC 180 (Communication Campaigns and Programs).
After being interested to the Newborn Screening Campaign of VYLH-Philippines, six DevComm students in the person of Peter del Rosario, Genie dela Cueva, Claire Anne Diosio, Keerleejohn Estabillo, Arjelyn Jose, and Minji Na asked the assistance of Ms. Gessa Ramos, VYLH-UPLB Coordinator and VYLH Committee Head of The UPLB Genetics Society. Their group, as well as their campaign, was named Happy Feet in order to remind how newborn screening is done and to emphasize that the babies are the real beneficiary of the campaign.
A Humble Contribution: Advocacy into Policy
Friday, May 11, 2012Achievements, Folic acid Awareness Campaign, National, Newborn Screening Promotion, Visayas Cluster
Written by Stephen Bryan Bongcaras* -
VYLH-Philippines Bohol
RARE. The best word that I could use to describe the most
recent milestone that I have achieved as a Volunteer Youth Leader (VYL) for health.
Just a brief history: I am Stephen Bryan Yu Bongcaras. An
incoming senior student of Holy Name University, Tagbilaran City, Bohol taking
up Bachelor of Science in Nursing. Last July 2010, I got a RARE chance of being
chosen to represent our university for the VYLH Visayas Island-wide Camp.
"A RARE Advocate" that is how people call me in
my province every time I try to lobby the advocacy of the organization since they
can't believe that a volunteer-advocate like me is existing, and an organization such as VYLH-Philippines exists too! I honestly had a hard time in pursuing similar activities done by
other volunteers in their area. I just wish I have someone standing with me in
all efforts that I do for the organization.