Dreaming of a great future is often the guiding light for many young Filipinos. And in the journey of reaching that dream, there are people who inspire them to work hard and be the best in their chosen field – someone they can consider as a Kaagapay.

In General Santos City, students from different walks of life dream of becoming members of the health profession. These students are the future of healthcare in the Philippines. In a report provided by the Department of Health (DOH), the Philippines has a shortage of over 190,000 healthcare workers.

Bell-Kenz Pharma, through its Sagip CPR: Pintig ng Pinas, has tapped one of the biggest and best allied health colleges in the country, the General Santos Doctors Medical Foundation College, Inc. (GSDMFCI), to be its partner in training students in the life-saving skills of Hands-Only CPR. The said school is home to over 2,000 students in various allied health programs such as Radio Technology, Pharmacy, and Medical Technology, among others.

The Sagip CPR: Pintig ng Pinas is Bell-Kenz Pharma’s biggest activation to date of its Sagip CPR advocacy. In celebration of February as Heart Month, Sagip CPR is staging a nationwide rollout of more than 15 back- to-back Hands-Only CPR training sessions across Metro Manila, Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao.

PURSUIT OF ALLIED HEALTH CAREER

Sagip CPR: Pintig ng Pinas has inspired the student-attendees to pursue their career in allied health. In addition to the lessons they have learned in their classrooms, the students were able to realize the importance of the learning skill of hands-only CPR, not just in their chosen career, but also to the lives of other people that they may help in times of emergency.

“This advocacy reflects a deeper understanding of healthcare and the collaboration needed to generate meaningful impact. In the past Sagip CPR rollouts, we were able to teach many Filipinos from different sectors the importance of hands-only CPR. But this time, we have become more intentional as we motivated young minds to continuously learn and become a healthcare worker someday,” said Dr. James Cayetano, President of the Bell-Kenz Foundation.

Being a Kaagapay sa Pangarap, Bell-Kenz Pharma’s commitment to be the companion of Filipinos goes beyond the pharmacy shelf. Through Sagip CPR, it extends into the hearts of Filipino students to be more prepared when real emergency happens.

LAUNCH OF TRAINING OF TRAINERS

In the mission of teaching the life-saving skills of Hands-Only CPR to as many Filipinos as possible, Bell- Kenz Pharma has strategized to hone trainers who will lead and facilitate the Sagip CPR training in various areas in the Philippines. The partner college in General Santos City is one of the first recipients of this monumental move.

“With the rising incidence of cardiac arrest across the Philippines, we must empower every Filipino with the life-saving skill of hands-only CPR to ensure help is always within reach,” said Dr. Daniel Yap, President of General Santos Doctors Medical Foundation College and General Santos Doctors Hospital. “By investing in the training of trainers, we ignite a ripple effect that strengthens our communities at the grassroots, transforming shared knowledge into a powerful movement to save as many lives as possible,” Yap added.

As heart disease remains the leading cause of death in the Philippines, Filipinos are called to be more prepared and be knowledgeable about the life-saving skill of Hands-Only CPR. In many cases of sudden cardiac arrest, survival depends on the person standing nearest—the bystander who knows what to do and understands that even two hands can mean the difference between life and death.

Dr. Luis Raymond T. Go, Medical Director of Bell- Kenz Pharma says, “We remain steadfast in being the Filipinos’ Kaagapay sa Kalusugan. By inspiring allied health students, we place the power of CPR into the hands of the next generation to build a stronger first line of defense against cardiac emergencies. More than just a project, Sagip CPR is a national movement calling everyone to action.”For more information about Pintig ng Pinas and the Sagip CPR advocacy, visit www.bell-kenz.net.