Have you ever wondered what happens if we don’t have our family doctor with us? Never mind your reply. That’s why we celebrate World Family Doctor’s Day (WFDD) annually every May 13. Many of our local hospitals had their distinct styles of celebrating.

The Cebu Institute of Medicine-Cebu Velez General Hospital Department of Family and Community Medicine’s WFDD initiative believes that the restoration of greenery around our environment will have a positive impact on the collective well-being of our stakeholders. Not merely for beautification, it is a necessary step towards a conducive environment of wellness for all. Over at Chong Hua Hospital Cebu and Mandaue, the medical staff of the Department of Family and Community Medicine joined forces in conjunction with the WFDD celebration.

Four generations of doctors in sync with each other did a clean-up drive along the beachfront in Catarman, Lilo-an, Cebu. Hosted by matriarch and consultant Dr. Rosita Charbonneau, the clean-up drive was a department initiative with the goal of promoting environmental protection of the coastal areas.

Unmindful of the intense summer heat, everyone’s attention was focused on picking up garbage using gloved hands. By mid-morning, all had a sackful of trash! WFDD is a celebration of all family physicians around the world as a form of appreciation to our primary care providers and for these physicians to give back to the community. This year’s WFDD, celebrated had the theme “Healthy Plane.