With the limitations and mobility restrictions brought about by the region-wide community quarantine, the members of the UP Medical Students for Social Responsibility (UP MSSR) have been responding to the pandemic situation in more modern ways. Through its network of affiliated organizations such as the Asian Medical Students’ Association Philippines (AMSA-Philippines) and International Federation of Medical Students’ Associations (IFMSA), UP MSSR members got to participate in initiatives and further their learning as well.
Participating in their capacity as MSSR members, the students helped in widening the reach of AMSA-Philippines’ online campaign series that counters fake news and misinformation about COVID-19 and the community quarantine. This was done through its public-friendly and digestible posts on different social networking sites that were translated in several regional languages and dialects of the Philippines. The same campaign series provided tips on taking care of one’s mental health in light of the “new normal.” Apart from countering the widespread infodemic, members also joined the Luzon Crisis Assistance Team organized by fellow medical students and disseminated their calls for donations and posts supporting healthcare workers and frontliners. Through the IFMSA, members were also able to participate in webinars to further their learning about the different aspects affected by the pandemic, such as human rights, public health, and even medical education.
As an organization, UP MSSR has joined initiatives such as Scientists Unite Against COVID-19 to call for mass testing in the Philippines and partnered with other organizations like The Youth Initiative, Project Salu-Salo, and UP Red Cross Youth to help support and spread their calls for donations.
Through the above projects, the members respond to the organization’s call to be socially responsible while being globally competent and locally engaged as UP MSSR members and as UP medical students.
Pamela Pasco | Published in Healthscape Special COVID-19 Issue No. 8
