JCI Mandaue, in coordination with the national JCI organization and various heavyweight corporate sponsors including Philip Morris, implemented “Mundong Makulay sa Sustansiya-A Makikita”, a vitamin A supplementation project that aims to curb the incidence of eyesight-related ailments in young, growing school children.

Consistent with the JCI Philippines’ advocacy for national de-worming and anti-vitamin A deficiency, almost 1,000 school children of Paknaan Elementary School at Barangay Paknaan, Mandaue City became the main beneficiaries of this drive. The project started at 11 a.m. and ended around 3pm. Almost one thousand school children each received an oral dose of 200,000 IU of Vitamin A.

The vitamins were donated by the Philippine Band of Mercy and the Embrace Foundation through the efforts of JCI Philippines and JCI Mandaue.

The project volunteers were graciously welcomed by Paknaan Elementary School principal Mrs. Giovanna P. Raffinan. Guests were acknowledged by JCI Phils. National Executive Vice President and Mandaue City Vice Mayor Carlo Pontico C. Fortuna. Other messages were delivered by JCI Phils. National Treasurer Lear San Buenaventura, Philippine Band of Mercy and Embrace Foundation representatives Atty. Mario Zinampan and Atty. Chita Herce, Mandaue Schools Div. Supt. Virginia C. Zapanta, and JCI Mandaue President Marc Achilles M. Phua. Other key participants included the school administration, medical, dental and nursing staff from the Department of Education, and the members of JCI Mandaue.

Vitamin A deficiency is a serious problem in developing countries such as the Philippines. The effects of vitamin A deficiency include night blindness, impaired immune function, susceptibility to infections, and poor bone development. Severe deficiency has been proven to result in complete blindness and death in young children.