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Blog
Cancer awareness outreach in the Philippines
July 23, 2008
I am in the Philippines conducting workshops for IFLA/FAIFE (I am going to Tokyo afterwards for more.) Here I met Lily Echivarri, Chair of our conferences, Information Access: Internet and Libraries - and the IFLA/UNESCO Internet Manifesto Guidelines: Train the trainers workshop. Lily is also the Assistant Law Librarian of the University of the Philippines (UP). She is also a Rotarian and it was with them that she got started in working with various communities in Manila.
Since 2003 Lily has managed the Pook Amorsolo Resident Association from the University of the Philippines (PARA-UP) Reach Out Project to provide free cancer screenings to low-income communities in Manila. Back in 2003 Lily was working with her local Rotary Club providing food to the homeless when she started to receive requests for free cancer screenings which are very expensive. Lily contacted the local Barangay Community Officials but they couldn't afford a mobile screening unit. Lily then thought about inviting doctors and nurses to provide free breast exams and screenings at community centers. She and her team would prepare and distribute flyers in the community, post banners and promote the event at community meetings.
Doctors and nurses conducting the screenings use the meeting rooms at the PARA-UP building to provide services to the community. The screenings are first-come, first-serve and are scheduled from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm. Working in partnership with the Philippines National Library, Lily has been able to bring the screenings to library users as well!
Lily is always looking for funds for the project. Currently, the Philippines Amusement and Games (PAG) office provides matching funds to women who need treatment. For example, during a breast exam, a lump was discovered in a woman, she was referred to a hospital and the expenses were paid in part by the PAG. The Philippines Charities Sweepstakes also provides funds to the project.
Future plans include the addition of Pap smear tests and increase work with libraries.
If there is one thing that Lily enjoys is serving her community, "Serving people is my priority. I practice service above self. Helping these women is my happiness."
We need more Lilys.
Posted by Loida García-Febo on July 23, 2008 | Comments (0)
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