The PGH Hansen's Club is a non-stock, non-profit organization that was established in 1998 February 28. In 1998, the Section of Dermatology, together with the Medical Social Services and Nutrition divisions of University of the Philippines-Philippine General Hospital, set up a support group for leprosy patients called the Hansen’s Club. Members of Hansen's Club are patients/treated patients and th
eir family members who are from Metro Manila and neighboring provinces. There are currently 20 active members. The PGH Hansen's Club is also an active member of the Coalition of Leprosy Advocates of the Philippines (CLAP), an umbrella organization of grassroots organizations. The Hansen's Club provides leprosy patients and their families with a venue for education and for increasing their awareness about the various aspects of their disease and how to regain and maintain wellness and productivity. The group also provides them a means of socialization and interaction with people who share similar experiences and frustrations. Income-generating skills and entrepreneurship are also important activities. Through this support group, Hansen's patients and former patients will be able to overcome their medical and psychosocial disabilities. Objectives:
(1) To educate members and families about the nature, appropriate management, and supportive measures for their disease;
(2) To help members and families understand the implications of their disease on their bio-psychosocial functioning;
(3) To help them express their feelings towards their disease and thereby help them better cope with it;
(4) To help build member confidence amidst his or her disease and to encourage members to regain their place as productive members of the community;
(6) To help develop and strengthen both the personality and character of each member;
(7) To help develop each member’s fund of information regarding health issues or other topics of interest and;
(8)To monitor the health of club members. Officers (2020):
President: Marco Villamor
Vice-President: Jeric Ibias
Secretary: Annie Cabarrubias
Treasurer: Flor Galarosa
Auditor: Noemi Cordova
Adviser: Belen L Dofitas, MD MSc (Dept. of Dermatology, Philippine General Hospital)
Average weekly attendance before pandemic: 10
Current project: PALs4PALs Help Hotline: COVID-19 Support Project for Persons Affected by Leprosy (funded by Sasakawa Health Foundation; together with Philippine Leprosy Mission & PGH Dept. of Dermatology)
Activities (past 3 years)
External:
1. Community Activities:
1.1 Community lectures - to general public in Manila City
1.2 Home visitations - psychosocial support; to encourage check-ups and continued medication of Hansens patients
2. Advocacy:
2.1 World NTD day infomercial and press conference (Jan 31, 2020)
2.2 PALs4PALs advocacy videos and audio recordings
2.3 Leprosy Week: Public talks on leprosy, patient stories - Phil General Hospital
3. Education & Training:
3.1 Interaction : Educational trips of Japanese health professionals in PGH (brought by Dr Art Cunanan) (2018)
3.2 Leprosy Trainings:
1) Participation as patients for the Leprosy seminar workshops every year for dermatology residents of St Lukes Medical Center and PGH (2018-2020)
2) Participation as patients in the Leprosy Wet clinics of the International course on Tropical Medicine by the University of Nagasaki (2019)
3.3 Psychosocial aspects of Leprosy: sharing patient stories to Medical students, college students (UP, Ateneo)
Internal:
1. Health literacy: Health and nutrition lectures
2. Capacity-building:
2.1. Leadership formation trainings that the Hansens club members attended (PLM 2018-2019)
2.2. Voice Empowerment project PALs4PALs Peer Counselling and Public speaking workshops (2019-2020)
3. Spiritual enhancement: During regular meetings - reflection on Bible passages
4. Fellowship: Christmas party, Valentine's Day, Club outings
5. Income-generation
5.1 T- shirt and tote bag printing and sale: theme
5.2 Production of the nylon monofilament kits for testing the hand and foot
5.3. Dishwashing soap making (past IGP)
The PGH Hansen's Club supports the National Leprosy Control Program in achieving its goal to lessen the burden of the disease and its mission to have a leprosy-free country. The PGH Hansen's Club is open to persons affected by leprosy consulting at the Philippine General Hospital.
