Australian volunteers back to Mindanao for medical mission

HALAD to Health, an Australian-based international development organization, is planning will conduct a series of medical missions in Valencia, Bukidnon by January next year.

The organization works in closing the gap in global inequality and runs preventative health education mission that also allows Australian university med and pre-med students to teach essential health topics to elementary and high school.

For the medical missions, it will work with the local government of Bukidnon, Rotary Club of Central Bukidnon and all the city health offices, Department of Education of Valencia and the beneficiary schools.

Wilh Jacobin, the cofounder of Halad, said they did a run through on their first mission last January to see how the hospital is operating. They conduct proper education, particularly in the prevention of chronic and communicable diseases.

“We do intend to expand in other locations. We are in an early stage right now, and we are trying to get approval of the University. Our goal is to make sure we grow and scale up here in Mindanao. We are trying to craft a health educational fair to implement in other schools,” he said.

The Halad to Health is still in its first year but already ran two successful mission trips. Starting with 14 core students, the group has delivered workshops to more than 300 students in the Philippines.

Jacobin also said that they are not just promoting healthcare but also trying

to share to the rest of the world that Mindanao is safe. They will immerse in the community for three to five years and help reduce the number of recurring diseases and teaching tehm the value of personal hygiene.