Japan’s gift to Marawi/ Teachers meet for deaf kids

The problems attendant to the still raging conflict in Marawi City include keeping the environment healthy and sanitary. Which is why we are grateful for the Japanese government’s donation of $800,000 through UNICEF (United Nations Children’s Fund) to reduce the heightened risks of diarrhea outbreaks and other health hazards among displaced children, families and host communities in the city and surrounding areas.

The Japanese donation is a response to reports of increased incidences of diarrhea including acute watery diarrhea in the beleaguered city. The challenge to scale up sanitation responses, access to clean water, and reinforce immunization and nutrition services has been aired by UNICEF.

UNICEF Philippines Representative Lotta Sylwander, upon receiving the grant through the embassy of Japan in Manila, thanked the Japanese government. She said, “Access to immunization, nutrition, safe drinking water and clean sanitation is a fundamental human right of children and families we serve. Impeded access of these lifesaving services poses significant public health threat and adversely affects the livelihoods and safety of women and children to further exacerbate humanitarian crisis and displacement.”

“UNICEF programs for children draws strength from continued partnership with the government of Japan and the generous and timely response received in reaching Filipino children and communities in need,” added Sylwander.

According to UNICEF records, the armed conflict has resulted in 359,680 people displaced (as of 29 July 2017), with many of them living in host communities or across the 75 evacuation centers. Over 200,000 children have been displaced. Many of those living in host-communities are affected by scarcity of household resources, including food and school supplies, in one of the poorest areas in the country.

The Japan embassy in Manila noted the positive UNICEF acknowledgment in a statement it issued. “Taking the strong bilateral ties between Japan and the Philippines into consideration, which have been reaffirmed by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and President Rodrigo Duterte on a number of occasions, Japan is extending this humanitarian grant aid to support the affected population in Mindanao.”

The Marawi crisis is now into its fourth month and there is no expectation that families will be able to return to their homes soon. Needs have been reported across all humanitarian sectors, but poor sanitation and hygiene is a key concern in heavily congested evacuation centers and host communities with largest numbers of displaced families.

UNICEF response in the water and sanitation sector so far includes distribution of 1,751 hygiene kits and 2,166 water kits, and hygiene promotion sessions in four areas of Lanao del Norte, Pantao Ragat, Pantar and Balo-i and Iligan City; and Saguiaran in Lanao del Sur. UNICEF also provided water storage bladders, jerry cans and water purification tablets to ensure adequate clean water for drinking and general household use to ease sanitation conditions in evacuation centers.

UNICEF supported water and sanitation response have so far benefited nearly 25,000 people. Health response has reached a few thousand children with micronutrient and Vitamin A supplements along with 3,000 pregnant and lactating women with iron-folic acid tablets. At least 20 children with Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM) and 79 children with Moderate Acute Malnutrition (MAM) were identified and managed. UNICEF promoted breastfeeding for hundreds of young children by providing breastfeeding kits and sensitization programs for caregivers.

UNICEF has also supported the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) of Lanao del Norte and Lanao del Sur, along with other partners, to construct some 198 toilets (both temporary and semi-permanent) and 40 bathing facilities including laundry areas. Working with partners in government, schools and NGOs, UNICEF stands ready to assist local government agencies in the delivery of basic services to the affected communities in and around Marawi including psycho-social support to children; and encourages local organizations to provide similar services to children and families who would need them.

* * * ON ANOTHER FRONT: For almost four decades, the Philippine Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf (PRID) has been responsible for teaching, training and developing excellent and highly skilled interpreters that provide quality sign language interpreting services for the deaf.

Established and registered in 1977 with the Securities and Exchange Commission as a non-stock, non-profit organization, PRID‘s vision is to be an effective training agency to provide communication access to the hearingimpaired, with the mission to effectively make available sign language interpreting services in all settings. From the basic to the advance levels, its sign language training program is a potent force in preparing interpreters whether

in the legal, medical, business, arts and culture, or religious fields.

To accomplish its mission of training education teachers to know the rudiments of teaching the deaf-impaired, PRID recently held a consultation meeting with special education supervisors, principals and teachers from public schools in the National Capital Region (NCR) held at the Philippine School for the Deaf (PSD) on F.B. Harrison st. in Pasay City. The aim was to familiarize PRID and DepEd with each other’s program on training for the deaf, and to identify areas of partnership where both institutions can work together.

Marita Capadocia, PRID president, led the consultation and invited the teachers to join PRID as associate members to learn the special skills of training the hearing-impaired. Benefits include discounted rates in training courses, gaining access to PRID’s resource center, and exchanging resources and experiences. Many participants expressed willingness to enroll in PRID’s sign language courses, a confirmation of PRID’s stand that sign language is beneficial, not only to the hearing-impaired, but to the hearing as well, such as in emergency cases.

Dr. Salvacion Olinares, chief of the DepEd’s Student Inclusion Division and Senior Education Program specialist, spoke on DepEd’s fresh mandate in training deaf students.

Hubert Ramos, program coordinator of Better Hearing Philippines, gave a lecture on “Understanding Hearing Loss.” Ramos’ interesting lecture familiarized the audience with the common but misunderstood occurrences of deaf impairment. E.g. using cotton buds to clean one’s ears is a no-no, and exposure to extreme noise and music can shatter one’s ear drums; babies born to pregnant mothers who contract German Measles may be born deaf. The advice is to consult doctors on the health status of their young children. Ligaya Corral, PRID trainor, interpreted a song through sign. Inspired by the teachers’ enthusiastic response to the first consultation, PRID plans to conduct a series of meetings with more professional groups to spread the message of the deaf for a more caring society.

PRID board members Dr. Juanita Ferido took charge of invitation to participants, Godha Abichandani was overseer of meal preparation, while Dr. Cindy Dollente Ang served as moderator. Elisa Villan headed the secretariat.

The Lourdes Tuason de Arroyo Foundation Inc. was one of the major sponsors of the event. Also giving a donation were lawyer Chet Tan and wife Cora Tan.

The PRID offices are located at the Philippine School for the Deaf on FB Harrison in Pasay City, with contact nos. 8316431 and email prideaf@yahoo.com.

Email:dominitorrevillas@gmail.com