By Allianah Junnice Bolotaulo | October 6, 2023
With their advocacy for community service, the Silliman University Medical School Students Association (SUMSA) conducted its second #SUMSAbado Community Outreach on Sept. 23 at Zone 8 Laguna Chapel in Brgy. Looc.
It included a seminar on urban gardening by the Department of Agriculture (DA)-Dumaguete Representatives, free blood pressure (BP) taking, and a feeding program.
For the seminar, the participants learned the different types of urban gardening and the “innovative way” of incorporating recyclable materials in gardening.
Furthermore, the DA handed out seedlings so participants could start their gardens.
Of the 40 participants, 32 availed of the free BP taking done by the SUMS Batch Invictus.
A total of seven Saturdays were plotted for the outreach series this semester, with one batch responsible for spearheading their assigned date.
Jiryl Quinamot, SUMSA Executive Vice President – External said that they intend to provide “essential” needs for community growth.
“The goal is to provide health education, medical outreach, and feeding programs to every barangay in Dumaguete City,” she added.
Marjy Martinez, SUMSA Executive President, said they made their community outreach “bigger” this year with the activities conducted.
“Going to the community has always been part of SUMSA’s activities, but this year, we have rebranded to #SUMSAbado,” she said.
Quinamot then explained that their administration aims to “challenge and reshape old norms and ways of thinking” with their #SUMSARedifiningNorms theme.
She said, “Medical students are stereotyped as those that isolate themselves [in] the classroom […] [Redefining norms] allows students to be proactive in dealing with social issues, which could enhance social and community engagement.”
The first #SUMSAbado community outreach for mothers and children was held last Sept. 16 at Brgy. Tinago.
A subsequent outreach will be conducted on Oct. 7.
