The College of Nursing (CN), through its student body organization, the Nursing Association of Responsible Students (NARS), successfully conducted a medical mission with the theme” One mission, one team, one purpose: to care, to serve, to heal” at the CN quadrangle on March 29, 2025. The activity was attended by BSU students and faculty members as well as residents from La Trinidad and nearby Benguet municipalities.

Around 220 individuals benefited from the wide range of healthcare services provided which includes HIV screening, eye check-up, ear flushing and cleaning, bloodletting and blood typing, Capillary Blood Glucose (CBG) monitoring, cervical screening, and breast examination.
Free medicines were also distributed to patients, ensuring that individuals in need had access to essential treatments. Student nurses played an important role by taking vital signs, providing health education, conducting Body Mass Index (BMI) monitoring, and assisting in various medical procedures.

The event was made possible through the support and collaboration of various organizations, including the La Trinidad Municipal Rural Health Unit (MRHU), Red Cross-Benguet Chapter, Department of Health (DOH) La Trinidad, Family Planning Organization of the Philippines (FPOP), UP Scintilla Juris Sorority, and the Benguet Association of Optometrists (BAO). Their collective efforts strengthened the mission’s impact, allowing for a more extensive reach within the community.

This medical mission also served as a meaningful opportunity for CN alumni who are now physicians and nurses to give back to their alma mater. Their dedication and selfless service contributed greatly to the success of the initiative.“We are happy for this medical mission because we cannot afford consultations and medicines, but here we were able to avail of free services. I feel lucky to have undergone cervical screening and a breast examination. I have a family history of breast cancer and one of my relatives passed away because of it so I have always been afraid. This initiative gave me the chance to take charge of my health,” said one beneficiary.

Specifically, reproductive health services such as cervical screening through visual inspection with acetic acid (VIA) and breast examinations are part of CN’s extension program. These services are regularly offered to the BSU community, including students and employees. In celebration of Women’s Month, the college extended these services beyond the university, catering to clients from Atok National High School and other nearby areas every Friday throughout the month of March 2025.

Through this initiative, the CN continues to uphold its commitment to community service, public health awareness, and accessible healthcare, making a meaningful impact on the lives of many.//Jonalyn S. Esco- CN Information Coordinator