The Center for Community Extension Services conducted “Operation Tuli” last May 10 and 17, 2017.The recipients of the outreach activity were sixty (60) Subanon and indigent children of Monte Central barangay Patalon and Sitio Poso Barangay Manicahan.
The outreach was conducted to provide circumcision service to children and young adolescents who have not undergone such due to lack of access to such medical procedures and financial challenge.
Ruth Enriquez, CCES Health Program Officer led the outreach activity. Team members of the Operation included Dr Jerf de Villa, Zamboanga City Medical Officer; AdZU Clinical Instructors Kimmel Ismael; Alexander Jumawan; and Catherine Carpio; and 4 nursing students from the Ateneo College of Nursing.
Parents expressed their support and gratitude towards this outreach saying, “gracias gayot kay ya pwede ya dimio dos anak man circumcise, palta gayot diamon encontrada na lavida para gasta na circumcision…aura hende ya kanila tenta.” [“We’re thankful that my two sons are finally circumcised (for free). We just didn’t earn enough money to have them circumcised, now they won’t be bullied anymore.”]
Under its health program, the CCES have long been working with the Ateneo Medical Assistance for Doctorless Areas (AMADA) to regularly provide medical assistance to its partner communities. The Medical and Dental Outreach Clinic in particular, where the Operation Tuli falls under, supports the center’s health program of aiming to improve the health condition of communities. The clinic
has been in operation since 1994.
CCES also thanks Fr Salvador Wee, Aldwin N Carpio, RTRP and the Ateneo Center for Leadership and Governance for joining in on this activity.
