The "Dancubator" Project
A few months back, RC Makati Paseo de Roxas (RCMPR) officers, PP David Lim and President Brigs Merin, came across an article in a local daily, which highlights the distressing state of some hospitals with no incubators. With the "Service-Above-Self" frame of mind, they were inspired to conceptualize a project to address this concern head on. Thus, a project tantamount to waging a war against poverty and lack of basic health care was born, and they set out to fulfill a mission of saving lives.
For practical reasons, PP David took the task of designing and making the club's own incubator. Contributing to the development work was RCMPR Community Service Director, Dr. Philip Cruz who ensured that the incubator will conform to accepted medical standards and specifications. Following the Club’s tradition of naming projects after past presidents, the proponents decided to name it the "Dancubator," in honor of PP Danny Lao.
After more than 6 months of development, the Dancubator was finally turned over to the Neonatology Department of the UST Charity Hospital last April 1, 2009. Dr. Janet Go, in behalf of Dr. Willy Santos of UST, accepted the donation from RCMPR members composed of Pres. Brigs and Gemma Merin; David, Dita and Kobe Lim; Jo and Vic Yap; and Dr. Philip Cruz.
It is now the aim of RCMPR to partner with the Philippines' Neonatology Society to provide locally made incubators, specially at depressed areas where they are most needed. This will also involve RCMPR's Blue Light project, the development of a phototherapy equipment that reduces the amount of jaundice in an infant. If left unchecked beyond safe levels, jaundice can cause severe damage to an infant's developing brain.
The TRUTH is, many hospitals, particularly, the charitable ones, lack medical equipment as basic as incubators. It's just FAIR to give premature infants their chance to live productive lives. Providing them will be BENEFICIAL in helping reduce infant mortality. And, by doing so, it builds GOODWILL and BETTER FRIENDHIP between RCMPR and its project partners through the forging of solid partnerships vowed to uplift the lives of our poor, sick children.
Just one of the many service undertakings of RCMPR, the Dancubator Project simply demonstrates the club's passion in making a difference in people’s lives - to make their dreams real. |
