COMMUNITY HYGIENE: The IAS Project

COMMUNITY HYGIENE: The IAS Project

by Marciano A. Paroy Jr.

The onslaught of diseases that remain unchecked until their fatal stages can be traced to the simple lack of initiative of people to maintain hygienic households and their surroundings. As population increases, community hygiene is delegated to the sidelines as people scamper for mores sources of food. This imperils the ability of people to maintain a healthy lifestyle. An imbalance ensues: as they struggle for subsistence, hygiene is disregarded.

It is because of these observations that the Extension unit of the Institute of Arts and Sciences came up with a project to reach out to those who know less, and instill in them the benefits of maintaining a clean and healthy community.

Target: Bado Dangwa.

The IAS project draws from the data collected from the interview that the project proponents conducted with the barangay officials and health workers of Bado Dangwa. Conclusively, the barangay indeed recognizes that they have pressing concerns on waste disposal, environmental health, food sanitation, personal hygiene and reproductive health. The researchers behind the project believe that addressing these problems would lead to the minimization – if not eradication – of the aforementioned concerns.

With Mr. Jeremias Ammakiw as project leader, being the Extension coordinator of the department, the IAS extended its enlightening support to the people of Bado Dangwa last September 1. Dr. Joy Grace Doctor, IAS Dean, oriented the barangay folks on her institute’s vehemence in reaching out to them. She also talked about personal hygience. Lecturers from her institute tackled environmental sanitation (Dr. Paulino Reyes), waste disposal and material recovery (Mr. Jeremias Ammakiw), food safety and sanitation (Mrs. Jessie Grace Martin).

Hon. Pedro Angog, barangay captain of Bado Dangwa, gave his all-out support to the extension workers from the academe.