ECU Nursing - Midwifery Students Attend the 2018 CPPP at AU Partner Institutions

Nine nursing-midwifery students from Edith Cowan University (ECU) of Perth, Western Australia recently concluded the 2-week Community Clinical Placement Program (CCPP) of Arellano University. Held on April 30 to May 11, 2018, the program aimed to expose students to the Philippine Health Care System.

The students were Hayley Boggis, Lisa Buselatto, Rosie Donnelly, Chevelle Fairman, Codey Holker, Sabrina Mahfuz, Lia Manuirirangi, Tegan Perkins and Grace Talbot. They were accompanied and supervised by their clinical instructor, Ms Dianne Bloxsome.

The first week of the immersion started with an orientation and a tour of Dr Jose Fabella Memorial Hospital, a government hospital and The Medical City, one of the most prestigious hospitals in the Philippines. Immersion started the following day at the Rizal Provincial Hospital System, Antipolo Annex 1, Supervised by  their ECU instructor, Ms. Bloxsome, AU-International Nursing Program (INP) faculty and College of Nursing Community Coordinator, they assisted in various activities including vital signs monitoring, prenatal check-up and Leopold’s maneuver, maternal/ post-partum health assessments, vaginal birth deliveries and newborn assessments.

The following week, the students visited Pangil, Laguna about 115 kilometers away from Manila. They participated in the community activities of the Municipal Health Office (MHO) through their satellite lying-in clinics in Barangay Balian, Sulib and Azupre, all located in the town of Pangil, Laguna. They observed and assisted in various health activities which included prenatal check-up with tetanus vaccination, cervical inspection with acetic acid, immunizations (oral polio), home visitations, health education and mother’s class.

The ECU delegation also graciously hosted and served as judges for the 2nd Buntis (Pregnant) Pageant wherein winners were given cash prizes and the rest getting consolation gifts. In addition, the students donated monetary assistance for their midwifery scholar, a BS Midwifery undergraduate student, Ms. Dolores Sheryl Esguerra. Ms. Esguerra is presently working as a health worker at the Municipal Health Office. Previous ECU students have already produced a graduate of BS Midwifery, Mr. Keith John Concepcion Subijano. They also provided financial assistance in the purchase of medical supplies such as the Doppler ultrasound, nebulizer and other supplies that the lying-in clinic needs. 

During the last 7 years since it started in 2011, the participants of the CCPP were able to successfully achieve their over-all objectives which is to expose them to the Philippine health care system and to share their best practices in the community.

With reporting by Elaine B. Detera, RN MD/ INP Faculty