August 7, 2024 | Kapangan, Benguet – On August 7, 2024, representatives from the University of the Cordilleras College of Nursing (UC-CON) participated in the Kapangan Local Health Board meeting, which was held in collaboration with Hon. Mayor Manny E. Fermin, Municipal Health Officer Dr. Mary Joy S. Fermin, and staff from Kapangan District Hospital. The meeting provided a platform for discussing how UC-CON’s community health initiatives can align with local health goals and address pressing health concerns in the Barangays of Pongayan, Central, Labueg, and Beling Belis.

Level 4 Program Coordinator Dr. Sheila Maria Batoon, along with UC-CON faculty members Ferdinand Terceroand Jessica Bentayen, shared nursing students’ community health experiences and insights from their on-ground engagements. The discussions were aimed at identifying ways to improve healthcare delivery and provide solutions to the health challenges faced by the communities.

In addition to UC-CON representatives, the meeting was joined by a Saint Louis University representative and Barangay Health Workers (BHWs), who actively participated in addressing the health concerns of the barangays and the municipality as a whole. The collaboration highlighted the importance of community partnerships and the collective effort required to strengthen healthcare services across Kapangan.

The session emphasized the need for ongoing collaboration between local government units, healthcare institutions, and academic institutions to improve health outcomes for the people of Kapangan.