SJIT Nursing Students Community Extension Service in Lumbocan, Butuan City

Not the actual SJIT Nursing Students.

Multi-stakeholders collaboration in community development and extension services is one of the major means in uplifting the lives of the rural populace. The development of extension services in rural areas presents a number of challenges to school, local authorities and active service
providers. However it also offers real opportunities for rural people and their communities.

Linkages and extension services is one of the important purpose of the institution. It develops the responsibility of the school in sharing its knowledge and resources to the society. The center for linkages and extension service leads all programs of the institution in the community service, institution building and networking. Extended services through school should be a neighborhood-based approach, to ensure access to a range of services in that locality, provided in an integrated way, be it from schools or other venues. School services should be based on consultation and negotiation as to what is needed, the gaps and what the school can offer the community.

As mandated by the office of the President of the Philippines through the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), the school’s trilogy of function is to deliver excellent instruction, research, and extension services (Civic Engagement). Focusing on the extension services, it is compulsory for the accreditation of degree program through the Commission on Higher Education.

At the start of the academic year 2005 – 2006 in coordination with the DOH and other LGU’s and NGO’s including CHED, SJIT identified barangay Lumbocan as deprived, depressed, underserved area in Butuan City for implementation were set in coordination with the barangay officials.

In the year 2005, SJIT adopted barangay Lumbocan, Butuan City as the beneficiary of its extension services since 75% of the residents were identified indigents based on the City Social Welfare’s (CSWD) Family Data Survey in 2004. The place is a seaport in the northern part of the city, and approximately 9 kilometers from the City Hall.

The institutionalized approach on community development of SJIT community extension program enables college / departments to contribute their respective expertise or fields of specialization. The residents of the barangay especially the children, out-of-school youths and parents were the beneficiaries.

The College of Nursing of Saint Joseph Institute of Technology provided health care services to the residents of barangay Lumbocan, ranging from disease control to educating parents and other community members to increase their level of awareness and knowledge on health and disease. The College of Nursing is geared towards providing health education and appropriate health care services with the end in view of promoting awareness and healthy practices among community residents.  Health care services rendered such as medical mission, dental check-up and extraction, BP taking, household teachings, and rummage sale. People will learn ways to reduce health risks and take an active part in personal health decisions. As informed community members, people will user community wide planning and decision making processes to analyze and take action related to health infrastructure.

After 5 years of community service, the program was evaluated through the Department of Health’s Program Evaluation and Assessment Concepts and showed desirable results. More women availed the services / programs of the CES of CON. Most of them are married, not able to reached college, were housewife, and Roman Catholic. With these results, more mothers are aware on the Health Care Services extended by SJIT College of Nursing. Most residents of barangay Lumbocan are satisfied of the Community Extension Service because quality community nursing service was provided to the barangay. CES was extended to benefit not only the individual but the whole family and community and with this, health promotion was attained.

Now, the Community Extension Service staff strives to involve the community in their programs and activities to enrich people’s lives at all ages. Health promotions through health education, since most of the people in depressed area are not so aware with regards to the health care especially when they have low educational background. The CES is continuously monitored and evaluated of its efficiency and effectiveness of the programs and services of health care delivery methods promoting health and wellness, and to raise the level of health of the citizenry.