03/12/2025
๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐: ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐
๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐
๐๐ถ๐ต๐ฉ๐ฐ๐ณ๐ด: ๐๐ณ. ๐๐ช๐ฏ๐ข ๐๐ฆ๐ฏ๐ช๐ค๐ฆ ๐๐ฐ๐ด๐ข๐ญ๐ฆ๐ด ๐ข๐ฏ๐ฅ ๐๐ณ. ๐๐ข๐ณ๐ช๐ข ๐๐ณ๐ฆ๐ค๐ช๐ฐ๐ด๐ข ๐๐ถ๐ด๐ต๐ช๐ญ๐ญ๐ฐ
On November 4, 2025, a ๐ฟ๐ฎ๐บ๐ฝ๐ฎ๐ด๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐๐๐ฝ๐ต๐ผ๐ผ๐ป ๐ป๐ฎ๐บ๐ฒ๐ฑ "๐ง๐ถ๐ป๐ผ" ๐๐๐ฟ๐๐ฐ๐ธ ๐ฎ๐ฐ๐ฟ๐ผ๐๐ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐ฉ๐ถ๐๐ฎ๐๐ฎ๐ ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ด๐ถ๐ผ๐ป ๐ผ๐ณ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐ฃ๐ต๐ถ๐น๐ถ๐ฝ๐ฝ๐ถ๐ป๐ฒ๐, leaving 2 million Filipinos affected. This includes our humble Brgy. Paknaan, Mandaue where there are approximately 30 000 people living in it. The Butuanon and Cansaga River overflowed during the torrents of rain, flooding its riverbanks. Many zones besides the riverbank were affected such as Sili, Talong, Sibuyas, Ahos, Tangkong, Sayote, Paliya and Carrots. People in these areas found themselves without clean water, food and electricity. They find themselves wading in the dark brown muddy waters in their areas, picking themselves up after the typhoon struck.
In response to the communityโs growing risk of leptospirosis, the Department of Family and Community Medicine of Cebu Velez General Hospitalโtogether with senior clerks rotating in preventive and community medicine with the leadership of Dr. Niรฑa Venice O. Rosales, Dr. Maria Preciosa Bustillo, Dr. Rez Gioz Apego, and Dr. Don Francois Noel under the guidance of Dr. Annely Jane Celociaโorganized Bangon Cebu: A Call To Care Leptospirosis Clinic and relief operations aimed at serving 300 residents.
Before proceeding with the planned relief operation, the team conducted a needs assessment to identify the communityโs most urgent requirements. We coordinated with the Barangay officials, particularly the coordinator of the Brgy. Disaster Risk Management Team, to discuss community needs, assess the feasibility of our plans, and gather recommendations for the activity. We also requested support with security, chairs, and tents. The assessment confirmed that the communityโs top priorities were safe drinking water, rice, canned goods, and clothing. In response, a donation drive was launched on November 6, 2025, with the support of CIM student organizationsโAMSP, AMSA-SOMA, and TORCH. An infographic poster was created and widely shared on the social media pages of CIM-CMSS, CSC Calvaria, partner organizations, and the organizers to maximize outreach.
Over four days, the donation drive received overwhelming support. We raised โฑ28,100 in monetary donations and collected 10 boxes of doxycycline (1,000 capsules) from the Philippine College of Physicians through Dr. Consolacion Cutillar and Dr. Catherine Rose Ti, 280 capsules from the Taguba family, and 500 capsules from AMSPโbringing the total to 1,780 capsules. Additionally, our Family Medicine consultants extended their support by providing hygiene kits along with 170 bottles of 500 mL water, 60 bottles of C2, and 60 bottles of 5L water. Student organizations also responded generously, contributing assorted clothing, canned goods, and a large supply of water and rice. Their combined donations included 4 sacks of rice, 520 bottles of 1L water, 22 bottles of 10L water, 135 bottles of 5L water, and 90 bottles of 6.6L waterโa total of 767 bottles. Because of this collective effort, we were able to expand our capacity and serve approximately 450 individuals.
On November 7, 2025, a planning meeting for the Leptospirosis Clinic and Relief Operations was held to ensure a smooth implementation of the mission. The meeting was attended by the community resident representatives of the Department of Family and Community Medicine together with senior clerks, and representatives from the student organizations AMSP, AMSA-SOMA, and TORCH. Discussions focused on the logistics, patient flow, distribution of goods, and coordination with volunteers. The team also planned strategies for participant gathering, and community engagement.
The Leptospirosis Clinic took place on November 10, 2025, from 8:00 AM to 12:00 NN. Volunteers included resident physicians from the Department of Family and Community Medicine, post-graduate interns, senior clerks, student organization members, and faculty of the department. The mission began with visits to flood-affected zones to inform residents about the clinic and encourage participation. Despite heavy rain, a long line quickly formed outside CIM-CMSS, demonstrating the eagerness and need of the community to access both medications and relief items.
Upon arrival, patients first registered, then proceeded to the hygiene, water and goods stations to receive hygiene kits, clean drinking water, rice, and canned goods. They were then triaged according to their risk of leptospirosis. Low-risk individuals received 2 capsules of doxycycline if exposed within 48โ72 hours; moderate-risk patients, often with wounds or direct exposure to floodwater, were given a 3-day course; and high-risk patients, who had prolonged exposure to contaminated water, were advised to take 2 capsules weekly for three weeks. All patients received their first dose on-site, ensuring immediate prophylaxis.
Following medication administration, patients were guided to the Post-Treatment Observation area, where they were observed for 10โ15 minutes and shown an educational video on leptospirosis. The video, created by the senior clerks themselves, covered the diseaseโs causes, symptoms, risk factors, and preventive measures, particularly emphasizing the dangers of wading in floodwater and the importance of early prophylaxis in Cebuano. This approach not only provided treatment but also strengthened community awareness and health .
By the end of the Leptospirosis Clinic and Relief Operations, a total of 443 patients were served, with 26.6% high-risk, 26.4% moderate-risk, and 26.1% low-risk. Most patients came from flood-prone zones near the Butuan River, including Ahos (135 patients), Sibuyas (88 patients), and Sili (54 patients). These numbers highlight the vulnerability of certain areas and the importance of continued community health interventions.
The success of Bangon Cebu: A Call to Care Leptospirosis Clinic and Relief Operations was made possible by the dedication of volunteers, faculty, senior clerks, student organizations, and generous donors who provided medications, water, and relief goods. Their efforts allowed the team to reach more individuals than planned while fostering community solidarity. We extend our deepest gratitude, as their support ensured the clinic not only treated patients but also educated and empowered the community to prevent future disease.
