Nursing Engaged in Child Illness Mgt, Competency Training

Health workers from the different barangays in Dumaguete City underwent training last month on Integrated Management of Childhood Illness (IMCI) by the College of Nursing, in partnership with the Provincial Health Office.

The participants were taught IMCI, a strategy of managing common illness among children who are five years old and below, in order to lessen their vulnerability and reduce morbidity and mortality rates.

Lectures and practicum sessions were employed in training the health workers in the proper handling of common cases, including diarrhea, respiratory infections, fever, malaria, and ear problems. Guidelines were shared on how treatments can be administered and managed based on certain standards at the primary level.

The training was carried out under the extension program of the College of Nursing, and strictly monitored by a group of experts that served as course facilitators: Mrs. Judith Vailoces (course director), Dr. Victor O. Nuico, Mrs. Gilda Torres and Mrs. Antonieta D. Delfino.

Meanwhile, College of Nursing Acting Dean Dr. Evalyn Abalos attended a trainer’s training program on the implementation of the National Core Competency Standards (NCCS), held November 18 to 22 in Cebu. Joining her were two other faculty from the College: Asst. Prof. Florenda F. Cabatit, Asst. Prof. Tita Q. Dumalag; and Ms. Fredita R. Tan from the Silliman University Medical Center.

(College of Nursing Acting Dean Dr. Evalyn E. Abalos, standing fourth from left in the last row, with the other participants in the Nursing Core Competencies for Master Trainers in Nursing Education and Practice program. Two other faculy from the College in the photo are Asst. Prof. Tita Q. Dumalag, standing fourth from left in the second row, and Asst. Prof. Florenda F. Cabatit, standing seventh from left in the second row.) 

The program on “Nursing Core Competencies for Master Trainers in Nursing Education and Practice” was done to further equip professionals in the academe, hospital and community work in the implementation of the NCCS in the Visayas.

A joint project of the Commission on Higher Education Technical Committee on Nursing Education and the International Labor Organization, NCCS standardizes the implementation of the Philippine nursing competencies. It responds to the challenges of quality assurance in the nursing practice, and the need to align training outcomes with realities or expectations on the job.

Silliman University, which is a Center of Excellence in Nursing Education as designated by the Commission on Higher Education, is among institutions in the Philippines invited to play a key role in the rollout of NCCS.