REACHING THE UNREACHED

Reaching the Unreached, a collaborative community outreach program of ACIM-Asia, Junior Chamber International (JCI) General Santos Twin Star Chapter and the 73rd Infantry Battalion of the Philippine Army. The program aims to render medical services, gift-giving and fun loving activities to upland communities who are mostly inhabited by the Indigenous People (IPs) or the Lumads and who rarely received medical attentions and gifts.

After more than a month of planning and preparation, the day has finally come to

offer our services to the B’laan Tribe of Sitio New Canaan, Barangay Pag-asa, Alabel Sarangani Province.

The goods, medical equipment’s and medicines.

Goods were arranged properly to avoid toppling during travel.

The staff of ACIM-Asia with youth volunteers from other organizations.

Our security escorts from 73rd Infantry Battalion.

The Philippine Army providing security to the volunteers on our way to Sitio New

Canaan. There were about 60 volunteers coming from ACIM-Asia, JCI General Santos Twin Star, the 73rd IB and youth volunteers from General Santos and Sarangani Province.

ON OUR WAY TO NEW CANAAN INTEGRATED SCHOOL It took us almost two hours to reach New Canaan Integrated School in Sitio New Canaan, Barangay Pag-asa, Alabel Sarangani Province. We have to pass by communities, mountains and small streams.

On our way to Sitio New Canaan.

The JCI Team in Toyota Hilux and the military medical and dental team as well as the

security escorts as we travelled by convoy.

The breath taking view of the mountains where the IP communities are, where majority of the town’s people didn’t know it exist. The name “New Canaan” aptly describes the

area where we were heading.

The roads leading to our destination were steeps and on the side of the mountains, which are prone to landslides during heavy rains.

Some of the dwellers in the communities we passed by.

ARRIVAL IN THE VENUE

The Venue and Preparations

Free flowing water from the top and the only source of water in the school.

Snacks for the children were being prepared by volunteers.

MEDICAL AND DENTAL MISSION

The medical mission team is composed of 2 medical doctors from the Provincial Health Office and another team to conduct vaccination against measles. An measles outbreak was reported 2 weeks before our outreach mission in the neighbouring town of Malapatan, Sarangani Province.

Registration and vital signs manned by JCI General Santos Twin Star volunteers.

Mothers with their children were waiting outside the medical check-up area.

Thankful to the two medical doctors, from the Provincial Health Office of Sarangani Province.

Another team from the Provincial Health Office of Sarangani Province conducted seminars and vaccination program.

The PHO team conducted vaccination against measles. As of 28 November 2018, 84

persons were affected and 18 were already confirmed dead.

Apart from the medical consultation and vaccination, dental extraction was also offered. The Dental Team is composed of the dental and medical unit from the military led by 1Lt Ralph Charlie B Casanova (DS) PA the Officer In-Charge.

Thanks to 1Lt Ralph Charlie B Casanova (DS) PA and his team, we were able to conduct

free tooth extraction to the people of Barangay Pag-asa. Tooth extraction cost 500 Philippine peso or roughly around 10 US dollars or 8.34 Euro, an amount that the IPs communities had a hard time earning. If they have money, they usually set it aside for food and other needs they think is more important than having their tooth extracted.

FREE MEDICINES FROM ACIM-ASIA ACIM-Asia provided the medicines and all medical needs needed by the areas in registration and vital signs, dental and medical team.

The president of JCI checking if the pharmacy is in need of help.

Preparing the medicines of the patients.

Anabelle from ACIM-Asia, gave instructions on how to take the medicines.

Some members of the JCI General Santos Twin Star helped in the dispensation of the medicines.

Lovely, asked patients to affix their signature in the medicines logbook after receiving

instruction on how to take their prescriptions.

A patient showing the free medicines they received from ACIM-Asia.

People were so thankful of the free medical, dental and free medicines provided by ACIM-Asia and its partners. One of the patients actually asked if when we will visit them again to have this medical mission. There were still lots of people who didn’t received medical attention due to limited time and resources in our part.

OTHER ACTIVITIES The JCI General Santos Twin Star, conducted other activities focusing on the children.

STORY TELLING While their mother and fathers and siblings are busy in the medical activities, the children were gathered and the first part of their program was story telling. A member from JCI and the Philippine Army told children stories.

The story telling team.

Proper Hand Washing Training Before lunch was served to the children, they were trained on how to do proper hand washing.

There were no washing areas in the school, so we have to take gallons of water and brought it to the classroom where we were having the sanitation training.

FOOD SHARING Snacks were distributed to the children after having their hand washing training.

GIFT-GIVING When they are done with their snacks, gifts like slippers, toys and clothes were given to the children as well as to the adults.

Some stuff like clothes for new born and toys brought by Isabelle Bonaface during the Rosa Mystica Health Mission 2018 last April were distributed to pregnant women and to parents with babies and the children.

Outdoor Games

Outdoor games were also played…

The health mission served a total of 178 patients from medical, 29 in dental and made more than a hundred children and adult happy. This program is just a first of many collaboration activities that ACIM-Asia, JCI General Santos Twin Star and the military. Two or more same projects are already in the planning stage to be conducted in the areas of South Cotabato and General Santos focusing on the Lumads or IP communities. Donations in kinds like for sanitation, toys, clothes, anything that could be of use and in monetary forms are greatly in need. The beneficiaries sent their thank you and a Merry and Blessed Christmas and Happy New Year to all its sponsors, donors and volunteers. ACIM-Asia would like to extend our grateful appreciation to JCI General Santos Twin Star headed by their president, Engr. Rudy T. Ruiz, Jr, the Alpha Company of 73rd Infantry Battalion headed by 1Lt Rojie Daryll C Cansancio (CE) PA, their company commander and 1Lt Ramces Ian T Dollente (CE) PA the company’s Executive Officer, to the 10th Forward Support Medical Platoon and 2nd Dental Operating Team, 1370th Dental Detachment of 10th Infantry Division under 1Lt Ralph Charlie B Casanova (DS) PA the Officer In-Charge and to the Provincial Health Office of Sarangani Province.

ACIM-Asia, JCI General Santos Twin Star and the 73rd Infantry Battalion, Philippine Army

Thank You!

Merry Christmas and

Happy New Year!