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 Vitali 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.
