The Rotary Club of Waling-Waling Davao (RCWWD) launched back-to-back community service projects that embody the Rotary Year 2017-2018 theme “Rotary: Making a Difference”.
First was the provision of ophthalmic equipment for vision screening under District Grant No. 1737556, “Healthy Eyes for Smarter Child”. The PhP175,000 worth of equipment are installed in the Mobile Clinic of San Pedro College, a health facility donated by Rotary Club of Pikesville, Maryland, USA. The ophthalmic equipment was formally turned over to San Pedro College on October 2, 2017.
To ensure smooth project implementation, RI 3860 District Governor Art O. Tan and RCWWD President Elisa D. Evangelista-Lapiña signed the Memorandum of Understanding with San Pedro College president Sr. Aida T. Frencillo, O.P. The ceremony was graced and witnessed by RI 3860 District Officers Rodel Riezel S. J. Reyes and Vincent Edward L. Ang, RCWWD members, and the San Pedro College administration.
The project is also supported by the Department of Health-Regional Office XI, Davao City Health Office, Davao Doctors College Department of Optometry, Prevention of Blindness Program, Integrated Philippine Association of Optometrists, Mindanao Medical Foundation College, and Davao Society of Ophthalmology.
Healthy Eyes for Smarter Child is aligned with the government’s Vision 20:20 Program that aims to eliminate avoidable blindness, empower communities to take proactive roles in the promotion of eye health and prevention of blindness, provide access to quality eye care services for all, and work towards poverty alleviation through preservation and restoration of sight to indigent Filipinos.
In a separate undertaking, RCWWD also launched the Global Grant Project Number 1640035 entitled “Davao Medical and Health Project” in partnership with the Rotary Clubs of East Davao, Adelaide, and Prospect during its 12th regular meeting held at Grand Men Seng Hotel on September 21, 2017. This three-year project aims to increase the access and improve the quality of health and education in three disadvantaged communities in the Davao Region namely Brgy. Caliclic in Samal, Brgy. Tibungco, and Brgy. Balete in Marilog.
With more than PhP5 million pesos grant from the Rotary Foundation, the project aims to train 15 MC8 professionals; improve health care by providing medical treatment to 600 children under five years of age and maternal care to more than 200 mothers, and improve health facilities benefitting 3,000 community members; and capacitate intended beneficiaries through vocational training for 200 community members, basic literacy for 15 school children, and training for 25 school teachers to teach special subjects to both schoolchildren and out-of-school youth.
Supporting this project are the Davao Medical School Foundation, Inc., Silingang Dapit sa Sidlakang Mindanao, Department of Education-Davao City Division, Southern Philippines Medical Center, and barangays Caliclic and Tibungco Health Center.
On behalf of RCWWD, club president Evangelista-Lapiña thanked both project partners and stakeholders for their continued service to humanity and stressed that working hand in hand does make a difference.
