ABSTRACT

Xavier University Ateneo de Cagayan College of Nursing envisions to providing

excellent health care and be responsive to the needs and demands of the local and
global market. The nursing program is a community-oriented, revolving around the
promotion of health, prevention of illness, and rehabilitation of clients in the
communities.
In line with the goal of providing opportunities for students to involve in
community activities and services, an effort was made to work on a project called
Herbal Meds Planting. This community activity is also an engagement of the Service
Learning Program (SLP) of the College of Nursing Level 3 students at Sitio Patpat,
Barangay Lumbia on September 13, 19, 20, 26 and 27, 2016 for block NA.
The planting of herbal plants aims to spread awareness and to educate the
residents in the community about herbal remedies approved by the Department of
Health (DOH). This would serve as alternative medicine to the community, providing
treatment to common health problems such as cough, colds, fever and diarrhea. These
medicinal plants can treat some lifestyle diseases like hypertension and diabetes
mellitus. Herbal plants are convenient, easily accessible in their backyards and
inexpensive.
On the first week of the rotation September 13, 2016 the students were divided
into three groups and were assigned to three separate areas in Sitio Patpat. The
different households in the community are revisited, and ocular survey was done to look
for where to plant the herbal medications. Then students had classroom enhancements
on topics of COPAR, 10 approved herbal plants and how to plant these herbal meds.
On the second week of the rotation September 19 and 20, 2016 the students
planned for the actual planting activity and microteaching. The herbal plants were
secured from some households in the community and some were bought. These were
re-planted, cultivated for a week and prepared all necessary materials for the actual
hearbal planting day. The selected herbal pants were Hilbas, Tawa-tawa, Sambong,
Akapulko, Kalabo, and Tanglad.
On the third week of the rotation September 26 and 27, 2016 the students had
the actual planting of the herbal plants in the selected areas. A total of four backyard
areas in designated household were planted. List of the herbal plants were mounted on
tarpaulins. Pamphlets were distributed that contains information on how to prepare the
herbal plants according to specific disease.