SDG 3: Good Health and Well Being

On February 13, 2024, the WE CARE Office, in a forward-thinking collaboration with the Department of Physical Education (DPE-CED) and the Local Government of Iligan City, proudly launched a significant and much-needed wellness program specifically targeting the senior citizen population residing in the city. The event took place at the vibrant Iligan City Public Plaza, where over 703 enthusiastic senior citizens participated, eager to take part in this initiative designed for their well-being. The dedicated medical team, comprised of highly skilled professionals from the MSU-IIT Medical Team and the City Health Office, was on hand to provide essential health services and support to the attendees.  

The primary focus of this initiative is to effectively address the various potential health concerns and to promote preventive care for the many senior citizens who have faced barriers in accessing adequate medical services for a significant period of time. This event represents a vital and strategic step toward achieving Sustainable Development Goal 3 (SDG 3) within the Iligan City community. It underscores the critical importance of proactive healthcare initiatives that cater specifically to vulnerable populations, ensuring that they receive the attention and care they deserve. The program’s resounding success can be seen as a testament to the collaborative efforts made by the university to support and uplift its community. Furthermore, it serves as a hopeful indication for future initiatives aimed at promoting good health and well-being among all citizens, especially those in need. 

As we move forward, the hope is that this program will inspire continued engagement and partnership between the various organizations involved, leading to even more innovative and effective health programs that will further benefit the senior citizen demographic and contribute to a healthier, more vibrant Iligan City community overall.

Through the WE CARE Office, the Department of Psychology in the College of Arts and Social Sciences created this extension project in response to the danger that Online Sexual Abuse and Exploitation of Children (OSAEC) poses to children and communities. The practice of sexually abusing children over the internet and digital platforms is known as OSAEC. This involves things like grooming, live-streaming abuse, forcing children to create explicit content, and disseminating resources for child sex exploitation.

The project proposal evaluated the Brgy and parents through Focus Group Discussions (FGD).  The knowledge of OSAEC among Tubod, Iligan City employees.  The conversation showed that parents did not understand OSAEC as a separate type of maltreatment. 

  Parents in Brgy. Tubod were trained in the Bisaya/Cebuano language to gain a basic comprehension of the abusive nature and the specifics of its practices.  The regulations governing OSAEC cases in the Philippines, as well as the process for reporting OSAEC, were also covered by the attendees.  The importance of parents in shielding their kids from OSAEC was underlined in the session. 

The goal of this project is to assess the level of parental understanding of OSAEC and its associated dangers, and to provide preventive training measures to parents and communities to protect children from exploitation. Parents and communities equipped with knowledge are crucial in child protection. This extension project believes that a protective network against OSAEC in Iligan City can be established by improving awareness and collaboration with local agencies.

In an effort to honor women during the National Women's Month Celebration, the College of Health Sciences (CHS) of Mindanao State University-Iligan Institute of Technology (MSU-IIT) organized a lecture-discussion on access to sexual and reproductive health education and services on March 22, 2024, at the CHS Conference Hall, MSU-IIT. This is the first time the topic has been discussed for people with disabilities (PWDs). 

The WE CARE Office in partnership with Integrated Philippines Association of Optometrists - Iligan Chapter (IPAO) facilitated the distribution of eyeglasses to the students of Tambo Central Elementary School in Iligan City. This initiative was a direct outcome of the recently concluded Optical and Medical Mission conducted at the school, aiming to support students' eye health and overall well-being.