Confessions of a Volunteer

Written by Zapphire Zamudio*

Three years and beyond: How it was and how it is now for the Volunteer Youth Leaders for Health

What began as a half-hearted attendance to a forum that I knew nothing about has now turned into a full-blown advocacy filled with much inspiration, passion and dedication. Starting with zero idea of what Folic Acid, Newborn Screening and Orphan Disorders are all about, I now readily face a community to increase their awareness of these three important matters.

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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.

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NBS ang Sagot! – Happy Feet partners with VYLH-UP Los Baños for NBS Advocacy

Written by  VYLH-Philippines UP Los Baños*

The Campaign Logo

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.

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A Humble Contribution: Advocacy into Policy

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.

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A Moment To Remember

Written by Christine Querubin*

This post is a story about a series of events that happened in one unforgettable day in the eyes of a volunteer.

It’s March 24, 2012. I woke up around 3:30 and was uber excited to join and meet the participants for the Reach for the Sky 2, a project of the group Photography with a Difference (PWD). 

05:27am- A Long Day Ahead

Our rendezvous was at the Megamall Bus stop where I got to meet the all-hyped up kids excited for what awaits them as the sun rises today.

Ate Yon from the Philippine Society for Orphan Disorders Inc. (PSOD) oriented me about my task as a volunteer for PSOD, a beneficiary organization in the event. I would be one of the marshals who would accompany the six beneficiaries from their organization as they are about to experience their very first plane ride and “reach for the sky.”

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VYLH, NSCs celebrate Araw ng Buntis 2012

Written by Ryan John Pascual, Marian Cuenca, RN , Anna Leah Millares, RN, and Jasper Jover, RN

 

In celebration of the National Pregnant Women’s Day last March 10, VYLH-Philippines in partnership with Newborn Screening Center – NIH, Visayas and Mindanao joined the Philippine Obstetrics and Gynecological Society (POGS) in their “Araw ng Buntis” activity with the theme “Maabilidad na P-nay, Malusog na Nanay”. This annual event is pursuant to Presidential Proclamation 569 which was signed in 2004.

VYLH-Philippines was able to participate in three key locations nationwide – Cuneta Astrodome, Pasay City; Robinsons Iloilo, Iloilo City; and Ateneo de Davao University – Grade School Campus, Matina, Davao City. Hundreds of pregnant women in these key locations were able to attend the said event. POGS was kind enough to provide a booth for VYLH-Philippines where volunteers were able to present and distribute information and promotional materials on the importance of Folic acid supplementation in the prevention of birth defects, and Newborn Screening. A signature campaign for the enactment of a Rare Disease Act was also done during the event. 

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Baby Making 101: A Personal Touch of Empathy for Babies with Rare Orphan Diseases

Written by Joan Mae Barredo*

Naughty grins underline the faces of the participants upon hearing the activity’s title. Various side comments here and there are evident in the venue for about, say, 30 seconds or so. And then, 30 minutes after, what remains is that emphatic look of compassion in their eyes.

Baby Making 101 as springboard

Baby Making 101

In connection to the various advocacies of Volunteer Youth Leaders for Health [VYLH] Philippines, especially on Newborn Screening and Rare Orphan Diseases, Baby Making 101 activity is one good avenue for health representatives to level-off the participants. This is to serve as a launch pad for processing the experience-base advocacy dissemination event.

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Promoting NBS, Rare Disorders to High School Students

Written by Ryan John Pascual
Pictures from VYLH-Philippines Volunteers

In the continued service and passion to the advocacy, VYLH-Philippines volunteers targeted high school students and teachers as the recipients of their information, education and communication (IEC) campaign activities on newborn screening (NBS) and rare disorders during the First Quarter of 2012. Among these activities were the Genetics Camp of The UPLB Genetics Society and "Schools for Rare" Campaign of VYLH-Philippines.

Schools for Rare at Luray II National High School in Toledo City, Cebu

High school students, being in their formative years, are viable partners in the advocacy since it is during the secondary level of education where students start to build their career path and pick the fields in which they will participate in the future. Imparting the advocacy allows students to be conscious of the health concerns that they will encounter as parents and leaders in the future. These students are also highly capable of disseminating information among their peers, friends and family.  Aside from students, engaging secondary school teachers to advocate our health concerns allows the integration of these health topics in their future classroom discussions.

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