Bajau health center opens

By Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc.
August 25, 2013

CEBU CITY – The Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc. (RAFI), through its Bajau Integrated Area Development Project (BIAD-P), in coordination with the Presentation Sisters of the Blessed Virgin Mary (PBVM) and the Nano Nagle School teachers, turned over a health center to the Bajau community in Sitio Puntod, Alaska Mambaling, Cebu last Aug. 13.

The community health center aims to bring together medical practitioners and representatives from health service provider institutions to undertake collaborative medical services to improve the health conditions of the Bajau community.

The construction of the health center was made possible by PBVM and Misean Cara, one of BIAD-P's funding donors.

The health center was named “St. Brigid”, after St. Brigid of Ireland, who was known for miracles of healing. The construction of the center started last Feb. 1, the feast day of St. Brigid.

A group of Bajau women, holding framed pictures of PBVM founder Nano Nagle and Saint Brigid, blessed the clinic with incense, water, and candle.

Dianne Duggan, one of the adult leaders of SERVE volunteers, and Dr. Stella Ygonia, Cebu City Health Officer, turned over the key of the health center to Bajau Tribal Chieftain Felecito Asamsa and to the cluster leaders.

“Nalipay mi nga adunay health center dinhi sa among komunidad nga magamit namo kon adunay medical check-up og trainings bahin sa panglawas (We are glad that we have a health center where we can hold medical check-ups and trainings on health and wellness),” Rosalita Jamare, Bajau cluster leader and health in-charge, said.

The activity was attended by private and public sector partners, such as the representatives from the Committee of German Doctors for Developing Countries (German Doctors), Cebu City Government's City Health Office (CHO), National Commission of Indigenous People (NCIP), and SERVE volunteers from Ireland representing Misean Cara.

SERVE volunteers rendered their service to the Bajau community for almost three weeks from July 13-August 13. They helped in the production of Inter-locking Compressed Earth Blocks (ICEB), perimeter fence preparation, and school tutorials with the pre-schoolers, out-of-school youth, and PBVM student scholars.

The volunteers had the opportunity to know the Bajau culture through a series of games.

BIAD-P continues to support the Bajau community through provision of basic social services in collaboration with various stakeholders. The project is in partnership with Presentation Sisters of Blessed Virgin Mary, University of San Carlos-College of Architecture and Fine Arts, and the Cebu City Government.

The project aims to effectively transform the Bajau community into a progressive, self-reliant community by developing their capabilities to live and work with dignity, to participate in development, and to improve their lives.