𝗦𝗣𝗖 𝗽𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗺𝗮 𝗲𝗾𝘂𝗶𝗽𝘀 𝗕𝗮𝗴𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗵𝗮𝗻 𝗺𝗼𝗺𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗯𝗮𝗹 𝗱𝗶𝘀𝗵𝘄𝗮𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗹𝗶𝗾𝘂𝗶𝗱, 𝗯𝗼𝗱𝘆 𝘄𝗮𝘀𝗵 𝗺𝗮𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴

Geared towards developing a sustainable livelihood program that also meets locals’ household hygiene needs, the San Pedro College School of Allied Health Sciences, with its co-proponent Junior Philippine Pharmacists’ Association (JPPhA) Chi-Pharmakon Chapter, spearheaded TINUBDAN: Tunob sa Kalinisan ug Panginabuhian, a community-based workshop that equipped mothers of Brgy. Baganihan, Marilog District to create herbal dishwashing liquid and body wash, September 29, TINUBDAN Health Center.

Prior to the workshops, Dr. Fatima May R. Tesoro, RPh, MSPharm, the dean of the School of Allied Health Sciences first had a brief talk on the importance of the use of hygiene products.

Previous medical missions carried out by the SAHS department with its student councils in the Marilog community identified Staphylococcal and scabies skin infections as prevalent among the locals, especially children.

Led by Tesoro and with assistance of the pharmacy faculty and student volunteers, the demonstration on the production of dishwashing liquid and body wash soon ensued.

Ensuring ready supply of its herbal component, the dishwashing liquid formulation featured decoction of the leaves of Senna alata or commonly known as ‘Akapulko,’ a plant introduced into the locality through an earlier initiative of the JPPhA Chi-Pharmakon over a year ago. Identified as one of the 10 medicinal plants approved by the Department of Health, akapulko, particularly its leaves, is known for exhibiting antifungal activity.

Meanwhile, the body wash included an antioxidant and an active brightening agent, along with other commercially available materials.

The 17 locals, divided into two groups with each focusing on either the body wash or dishwashing liquid, also had the opportunity to take part in crafting the hygiene products themselves, as part of the project’s greater initiative to build the community’s capacity for small-scale yet sustainable production.

Apart from imparting skills, the proponents donated a high-power rotatory mixer and raw chemicals, ensuring the community had all the essential resources necessary for kickstarting and even maintaining their production. These, along with handy manuals of procedures written in Bisaya were handed out also.

During their next visit, the team will provide bottles and pre-designed labels for the dishwashing liquid and body wash.

Beyond equipping the beneficiaries with technical skills and starting materials, the Senior High School Department’s Young Entrepreneurs Club seeks to collaborate with SAHS in crafting pricing and marketing strategies for the hygiene products, although the specifics of the proposal are yet to be disclosed.

The community undertaking, done in line with the celebration of the World Pharmacists’ Day 2025, was part of the SAHS’ long-term vision to make TINUBDAN a local hub of wellness that could upend health and even socioeconomic conditions of residents living in the outskirts of Marilog District.

Last June 11, the JPPhA Chi-Pharmakon led a community extension and engagement project in the same health center, featuring a demonstration of making herbal topical preparations made with locally sourced plants aimed at combatting skin infections.

Article by James Martinez
Photos by Mareld Ecija