Article is written by Dr. Aldren R. Remon, RN, Chief Nurse
“Truly, with love, nothing is impossible.”
As the Christmas season rolled in, SLU-Sacred Heart Medical Center Nursing Service Department got into the spirit of love, kindness, and generosity. Together with the Medical Center’s partner organization, SLU- Nursing Alumni Association International, the SLU-SHMC Nursing Service Department conducted a series of gift-giving activities for children of the DSWD-CAR, The Regional Haven, and the Northern Luzon School for the Visually Impaired last December 7, 2022, in Baguio City, Philippines.
The annual gift-giving program was initiated by Dr. Aldren R. Remon, RN, Chief Nurse, with Mrs. Emmaflor C. Hamada, RN, Operating Room Head Nurse, as the Team Leader. Notably, eighteen (18) Nurses and Staff from the SLU-SHMC Nursing Service Department actively joined the program from planning, organizing, and implementation, until evaluation. A pre and post-debriefing activity was conducted to ensure psychological safety among the volunteers and beneficiaries of the program. The measurable output of the activity included sharing hygiene kits, gifts, toys, and educational kits with eighteen women and children beneficiaries from DSWD, The Regional Haven, and seventeen (17) visually impaired children from the Northern Luzon School for Visually Impaired. Added to the sustainable gifts are health promotion and education sessions given by the Nurses to promote health.
This sustainable gift-giving activity introduced the importance of health, such as infection prevention and control and self-care practices, based on the collaboration between healthcare workers such as hospital Nurses, youth, and vulnerable children, taking the form of a knowledge bridge. The conduct of health services further builds rapport, relationships, and linkages to the community, thereby strengthening partnerships for future directions.
The Nursing Service Department believes that alternative gift-giving activities, such as donation of hygiene kits, gifts and toys, and educational kits, offer youth and children a way to give back to their communities while learning valuable Christian Spirit and Social Involvement skills. This outreach activity is aligned with the Catholic Education Association of the Philippines CEAP-JEEPGY advocacies and the CICM thrust. Specifically through transformative health education grounded on Engaged Citizenship, Gender Sensitivity, and Youth Empowerment. The activity as mentioned above was also aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and CICM Advocacies. Specifically through dealing with specific vulnerable conditions and diseases and supporting their community (SDG 3, Good Health and Well-Being), and provision of access and support to the progression of women (SDG 5, Gender Equality).
