About Us
SOS stands for Samahang Operasyong Sagip. It is a network of volunteer health workers, professionals, and students, that aim to render assistance to disaster victims through responses such as disaster preparedness and mitigation initiatives, relief and medical missions, psychosocial services, and post-disaster rehabilitation.
History
In 1988 and 1989, volunteer teams of health workers, professionals and students assisted urban poor and worker communities in Malabon and Navotas who were victims of severe flooding.
In 1990, after the terrible earthquake in Luzon, the volunteer teams were formally organized into a disaster response network in the health sector–the Samahang Operasyong Sagip, or S.O.S. In the same year, when the lahar flows from erupting Mt. Pinatubo ravaged Central Luzon, S.O.S volunteer teams assisted in the relief and medical missions to affected communities.
Objectives
- To create public awareness on the disaster situation and the people’s response.
- To organize volunteers and concerned individuals in the health sector to render assistance to the victims of disaster through relief and medical missions.
- To gather resources that will be distributed to the victims of calamities in various areas of the country.
Who heads the S.O.S?
A Coordinating Body (CB) oversees all the activities being implemented by S.O.S. It consists of representatives of medical and nursing students, health professionals in community service organizations, health workers in hospitals, and team leaders of various quick reaction teams (QRTs).
How can you join and help out?
Anyone willing to help is welcome to join the team! You can start a relief and fund drive within your organization, class, barkada, or even your community.You may also lend your resources like trans-port vehicles, storage rooms and communication equipment to facilitate the conduct of medical and relief missions in disaster-struck communities.
Urgently needed are the following:
- Medicines
- Food
- First aid kits
- Clothing
- Construction materials
Volunteer health professionals and students are welcome to join the medical and relief missions. Better yet, you may form your own quick reaction teams (QRT’s) as well!