ABUCAY, Bataan – Gawad Kalinga members from the United States and some graduating students from a nursing school in Illinois on Friday conducted an outreach program in this town. They joined members of the Abucay Rural Health Unit in giving medical assistance to some patients, both children and adults. “We are here in partnership with the Chamberlain College of Nursing in Illinois to conduct community service,” said Carol Tulud, member of Gawad Kalinga Board of Directors and regional leader of South Central Texas.
Dr. Gigi Melendez, associate professor of Chamberlain College of Nursing, said with them are 12 graduating nursing students, four registered nurses, two athletic trainors and Gawad Kalinga volunteers. “This is part of our community health course where students have the chance to sit down with rural health doctors and learn from there,” she said.
Melendez said that since 2010, this is the fourth time since that she is accompanying graduating students of their school in different areas here in the Philippines, to undertake community service. “Next, we will be in Bohol and Tacloban, Leyte,” she said.
Abucay Mayor Ana Santiago thanked the group for choosing her town as the first area of its community service in Bataan. She said that the students from the American nursing school will learn a lot from their rural health unit that serves and extends regular medical attention especially to the poorest patients from far-flung villages.
