The University of the Cordilleras – College of Nursing (UC-CON) reinforced its commitment to community health and development in 2024 through strengthened local collaborations across Baguio City, Benguet, and the Cordillera region. Through coordinated health missions, school-based outreach, inter-agency partnerships, and health governance engagements, UC-CON delivered accessible healthcare services while providing transformative learning opportunities for student nurses.
Expanding Access to Community-Based Health Services
On July 24, 2024, UC-CON partnered with Barangay Sta. Escolastica to conduct a community medical mission that provided vital signs taking, basic health assessments, and health education for residents. Despite heavy rain, the mission persisted, demonstrating strong commitment between UC-CON, student volunteers, and barangay officials in ensuring continued access to essential health services.¹
A health outreach initiative followed on August 30, 2024, in collaboration with Barangay Dontogan, where UC-CON nursing students conducted screenings, consultations, and health education activities to promote preventive care and strengthen health-seeking behaviors among residents.²
UC-CON faculty led another outreach mission on November 23, 2024, at Barangay North Sanitary Camp, delivering medical consultations, laboratory and pharmacy services, blood typing, health screenings, and health teaching. This collaboration addressed access barriers to healthcare services and encouraged residents to actively participate in managing their health.³
UC-CON also took part in the largest medical mission in La Trinidad on November 24, 2024, held at the Benguet State University Closed Gym. The event gathered healthcare providers, volunteers, and students in a wide-scale effort to deliver multiple services to the local community, strengthening UC-CON’s role as a regional partner in promoting public health.⁴
Earlier in the year, UC-CON hosted Communidad 2024 from May 21 to 23, 2024, a three-day medical–dental–circumcision mission at the UC campus which served families across Baguio, Itogon, Kapangan, and La Trinidad. This annual initiative mobilized student nurses, faculty, and partner agencies to provide essential services free of charge.⁵
Strengthening School and Youth-Focused Health Promotion
On August 4, 2024, UC-CON collaborated with the UC University Student Council to conduct a community outreach at Bad-ayan Integrated School in Buguias, Benguet. The activity included vital signs taking, blood glucose and blood typing services, and health literacy sessions, while also providing school supplies to support learners’ overall wellness and academic development.⁶
UC-CON also joined the World AIDS Day observance on December 3, 2024, in La Trinidad, participating in HIV awareness activities organized by local partners to help reduce stigma and strengthen community advocacy for sexual health and well-being.⁷
On December 5, 2024, UC-CON supported the 16th PUSO (Paltiing United Seniors Organization) Community Medical Mission in Barangay Mines View, providing health assessments and education aimed at supporting the wellness needs of older adults in the community.⁸
Advancing Local Health Governance and Community Engagement
On August 7, 2024, UC-CON participated in the Kapangan Local Health Board Meeting, where faculty and student representatives engaged with the Municipal Mayor, Municipal Health Officer, and other local stakeholders to align community health nursing (CHN) activities with municipal health priorities. This engagement further enhanced community-based health program planning and intersectoral coordination.⁹
UC-CON also took part in Project SHALAMAT on November 14, 2024, in Pongayan, Kapangan, where student nurses supported a bloodletting activity with the BGHMC Blood Bank, blood typing services, and the 4th Barangay Health Board Assembly focused on tuberculosis, HIV, and voluntary donation.¹⁰
Additionally, UC-CON collaborated with Philex Mining Corporation during a Medical and Dental Mission on December 4, 2024, at Camp 3 Elementary School, Tuba, where student nurses and alumni volunteers helped deliver essential health services to families and learners within the community.¹¹
SDGs Covered
- SDG 3: Good Health and Well-Being – Indicator 3.3.1
Strengthened access to essential and preventive health services through sustained local collaborations, outreach missions, and targeted health promotion activities. - SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals – Indicator 17.17
Enhanced multi-stakeholder cooperation with barangays, LGUs, schools, and community-based organizations to support public health programs and community capacity-building.
References
¹ UC and Barangay Sta. Escolastica Conduct Successful Medical Mission (July 24, 2024)
https://con.uc-bcf.edu.ph/2024/07/24/uc-and-barangay-sta-escolastica-conduct-successful-medical-mission/
² UC Nursing Students Conduct Health Outreach in Barangay Dontogan (August 30, 2024)
https://con.uc-bcf.edu.ph/2024/08/30/uc-nursing-students-conduct-health-outreach-in-barangay-dontogan/
³ UC Faculty Leads Successful Community Outreach Health Mission at Barangay North Sanitary Camp (November 25, 2024)
https://con.uc-bcf.edu.ph/2024/11/25/uc-college-of-nursing-faculty-leads-successful-community-outreach-health-mission-at-barangay-north-sanitary-camp/
⁴ UC CON Students and Faculty Participate in La Trinidad’s Biggest Medical Mission (November 25, 2024)
https://con.uc-bcf.edu.ph/2024/11/25/uc-con-students-and-faculty-participate-in-la-trinidads-biggest-medical-mission/
⁵ CON Communidad 2024 Celebrates Healthcare Mission After Pandemic Hiatus (May 27, 2024)
https://con.uc-bcf.edu.ph/2024/05/27/communidad-2024/
⁶ UC USC and CON Conduct Community Outreach at Bad-ayan Integrated School (August 4, 2024)
https://con.uc-bcf.edu.ph/2024/08/04/uc-university-student-council-and-college-of-nursing-conduct-community-outreach-at-bad-ayan-integrated-school/
⁷ UC CON Joins World AIDS Day 2024 in La Trinidad (December 3, 2024)
https://con.uc-bcf.edu.ph/2024/12/03/uc-con-joins-world-aids-day-2024-in-la-trinidad/
⁸ UC CON Volunteers Support PUSO Community Medical Mission (December 5, 2024)
https://con.uc-bcf.edu.ph/2024/12/05/uc-con-volunteers-support-puso-community-medical-mission/
⁹ UC CON Joins Kapangan Local Health Board Meeting (August 7, 2024)
https://con.uc-bcf.edu.ph/2024/08/07/uc-college-of-nursing-joins-kapangan-local-health-board-meeting/
¹⁰ UC Nursing Students Join Project SHALAMAT Bloodletting and Health Board Assembly (November 18, 2024)
https://con.uc-bcf.edu.ph/2024/11/18/uc-nursing-students-join-project-shalamat-bloodletting-and-health-board-assembly/
¹¹ UC Student Leaders and Nursing Students Join Medical and Dental Mission (December 4, 2024)
https://con.uc-bcf.edu.ph/2024/12/04/uc-student-leaders-and-nursing-students-join-medical-and-dental-mission/
