The SM Foundation recently led a medical mission team to the cities of Tuguegarao and Cauayan in Northern Luzon and provided services to thousands of low-income families residing in the region.
It has always been a challenge for the community there to have access to quality healthcare so medical missions have become a vital source of support for these low-income communities. The SM Foundation recognized these challenges so it has made is mission to travel from Luzon to Mindanao to provide free medical services to thousands of patients residing in hard-pressed communities.
Roland Bariuan and Angeline Cacanindin are just two of the thousands who benefited from the medical mission in Northern Luzon.
"Napansin ko na kahit malakas ako kumain, namamayat ako at nanghihina. Nalaman ko na may diabetes na po ako," said Roland Bariuan, a tricycle driver in Tuguegarao. It's been two years ago when he started feeling weak and had to spend money on medical consultations and examinations. "Pero hindi pwedeng pabayaan ko ang sarilo ko. Hindi pwedeng maging tamad ako dahil may sakit ako. King tamad po ako mamasada, wala kaming pang araw-araw at gagastusin pambili ng gamot."
Through the medical mission, he received free consultation, blood tests, x-ray, and medicines- services that would usually break his earnings if he had it done elsewhere. With the assistance extended to him, he had his scheduled check-up without worrying about the finances and even manages to put aside money originally allotted for medicine and laboratory tests. It is indeed a blessing that Roland learned about the scheduled medical mission.
"Ang kinikita ko sa pamamasada ang ginagamit ko at ng pamilya ko para sa aming pangangailangan. Kaya mahalaga sa akin ang aking kalusugan. Ang magandang pangangatawan ang nagbibigay sa akin ng lakas para mas lalo pang pagsumikapan ang pamamasada," added Roland. "Pero bilang tricycle driver, hindi namin maiiwasang magkasakit dahil usok ang kasabayan namin sa pamamasada. Kaya malaking tulong ang libreng check-up at ang libreng gamot mula sa SM Foundation. Malaking tulong ito dahil kahit papaano, hindi ko muna iisipin ang pang gamot ko."
Like Roland, Angeline Cacanindin also resides in Cagayan Valley and also know the importance of having a healthy body especially in her line of work as a house helper. She also believes that her children also need to be healthy so that they can do well in school.
Alas, one of her daughter has been complaining about toothache and it has been keeping the child away from school. "Butas na po ang mga ngipin nya. Kaya tuwing kumakain po sya, pumapasok ang kanin at nasasaktan sya. Hindi na rin po sya makapag focus sa school dahil sa sakit," said Angeline.
"Nito lang po, tumawag po ang teacher niya at sinasabing umiiyak po ang anak ko pero hindi umiimik. Nung kinausap ko po sya, nalaman kong sobrang sakit po ng ngipin nya. Umiyak din po ako dahil ramdam ko yung sakit. Hindi ko sya agad madala sa dental clinic dahil nasa trabaho po ako at mahal din po ang magpabunot," recounted Angeline.
Then she heard about SM Foundation's medical mission in SM City Cauayan and brought her daughter for the free checkup. Her daughter's tooth was extracted and they also received free paracetamol, antibiotics, and even vitamins for her child. They were also taught how to properly care for the teeth and other dental hygiene tips from volunteer dentists.
"Ang medical mission na ito ay malaking tulong kasi libre po serbisyo pati ang mga gamot. Ngayon po, makakapagsimula muli kaming subaybayan ang kalusugan ng aming anak para maganda po ang kinabukasan nya," added Angeline.
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