UNILAB Ideas Positive Awards Grand Prize Winner

A team of nursing students called Team WAYA from West Visayas State University in Iloilo bagged the grand prize in the first national run of Unilab Ideas Positive, a social marketing competition for community health and wellness. Team WAYA’s “Tahong for Life” program reduced the cases of diarrhea in Sitio Pang-pang, Dumangas, Iloilo City from 70 in May 2012 to zero in January to April 2013 through teaching hygiene and sanitation practices to families doing de-shelling of mussels. Their program also improved the community’s cleanliness and the families’ livelihood.

With members Michael Dela Peña, Hannah Dolduco, Alfred Dicto, Rexell Ela and Charibel San Pedro, the team took home P60,000 cash prize, a trophy, medals, plus a social marketing training sponsored by Unilab. Joining them in the photo are: Senior Vice President for Unilab Corporate Affairs and Executive Director of Unilab Foundation Rhodora Palomar-Fresnedi (extreme left), Assistant Vice President for Corporate Affairs and Communications Director of Unilab Foundation Jose Antonio Mapa (third from right) and Unilab Ideas Positive Project Lead Barry Barrientos (extreme right); and panelist and former dean of the College of Social Work and Community Development in UP Dr. Angelito Manalili (second from right).

To know more about Team W.A.Y.A’s project outcomes and the other winning teams, visit www.facebook.com/Unilab.IdeasPositive.