Badjao health center opens

A health center was recently opened to attend to the health needs of the Badjao community in barangay Alaska Mambaling, Cebu City.

The Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc. (RAFI) turned over the project last Aug. 13 after its completion.

The project was made possible by the Presentation Sisters of the Blessed Virgin Mary (PBVM) and Misean Cara, one of the funding donors of RAFI’s Badjao Integrated Area Development Project.

Medical practitioners and health service provider representatives will undertake collaborative medical services to improve the health conditions of the Badjao people.

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

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

SERVE volunteers from Ireland rendered their service for a month from July 13 to Aug. 13. They helped in the production of earth blocks and set up a perimeter fence. They also conducted school tutorials for the Badjao pre-school children, out-of-school youth and PBVM student scholars. They also engaged the Badjaos in a series of games.

Dianne Duggan, one of the SERVE volunteers, and Dr. Stella Ygonia, Cebu City Health officer, turned over the key to the health center to Badjao tribal chieftain Felecito Asamsa and to the cluster leaders.

The ceremony was attended by representatives from the Committee of German Doctors for Developing Countries (German Doctors), City Health Office, National Commission on Indigenous People, and SERVE volunteers representing Misean Cara.

The health center project is also in partnership with the University of San Carlos-College of Architecture and Fine Arts, and the Cebu City government.

For more information about BIAD-P, call Mary Joey Bautista at 4187234 local 515 or visit www.rafi.org.ph.