While access to quality healthcare continues to be hampered by challenges, medical missions have become an increasingly vital source of support for low-income communities. Through time, they have gone beyond providing medical care and have taken up a new role: transforming the lives of individuals and communities.
The SM Foundation, Inc. (SMFI) recognizes just
this, so it has made its mission to travel from Luzon to Mindanao to provide
free medical care and services to thousands of patients from various
hard-pressed communities.
Just recently, the medical mission team headed
to the cities of Tuguegarao and Cauayan in Northern Luzon and provided services
to thousands of low-income families. Two of them are Roland Bariuan and
Angeline Cacanindin.
Strength
to do more
Roland Bariuan takes home free medicines after his medical check-up.
Roland has been a tricycle driver in Tuguegarao
City since 1994. But, two years ago, he suddenly felt weak and had to spend
money on medical consultations and examinations.
“Napansin ko na kahit malakas ako kumain,
namamayat ako at nanghihina. Nalaman ko na may diabetes na po ako. Pero hindi
pwedeng pabayaan ko ang sarili ko. Hindi pwedeng maging tamad ako dahil may
sakit ako. Kung tamad po ako mamasada, wala kaming pangaraw-araw at gagastushin
pambili ng gamot,” he shared.
Determined to care for his health, he goes to
the city health office for his routine checkups. The same drive to boost his
health is also what led him to SM group’s medical mission, led by SMFI: “Dahil
magastos po magpagamot, kadalasan po akong pumunta sa city health office para
sa lahat ng aking checkups. Ngayon, nataon pong nalaman kong mayroon medical
mission dito sa SM City Tuguegarao.”
Through the medical mission, he received free consultation, blood tests,
x-ray, and medicines–services that would break the bank if he had it done
elsewhere. With the assistance extended to him, he had his scheduled checkup
without worrying about the finances and even managed to put aside money
originally allotted for medicine and laboratory tests.
“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,” he said.
“Pero bilang tricycle driver, hindi namin maiiwasang magkasakit dahil
usok ang kasabayan namin sa pamamasada. Kaya malaking tulong ang libreng check-up
sa ang libreng gamot mula sa SM Foundation. Malaking tulong ito dahil kahit
papaano, hindi ko muna iisipin ang pang gamot ko,” he added.
Making quality healthcare
attainable
Roland’s fellow resident from Cagayan Valley, Angeline Cacanindin, knows
full well the need to maintain a healthy body, for this is her tool to fulfill
her duty as a house helper. She also believes that this is what her children
can rely on as they strive in school.
However, her youngest daughter has been complaining about a toothache,
which was already interfering with her nutrition and attendance in school.
“Butas na po ang mga ngipin niya. Kaya tuwing kumakain po siya,
pumapasok ang kanin at nasasaktan siya. Hindi na rin po siya makapag focus sa
school dahil sa sakit,” she shared.
“Nito lang po, tumawag po ang teacher niya at sinabing umiiyak po ang anak ko per hindi umiimik. Nung kinausap ko po siya, nalaman kong sobrang sakit na po ng ngipin niya. Umiyak din po ako dahil ramdam ko ‘yung sakit. Hindi ko siya agad madala sa dental clinic dahil nasa trabaho po ako at mahal din po ang magpabunot,” she said.
When she heard about SMFI’s medical mission in SM City Cauayan, she
immediately brought her daughter for a checkup. Here, her daughter’s tooth was
extracted. She also received free paracetamol, antibiotics, vitamins apt for
her child’s age, and 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 niya.” she said.
Through the ongoing medical missions of SMFI,
many economically disadvantaged individuals like Roland and Angeline get
lifelines–an intervention that provides immediate relief to those in need and a
chance to access medical care and resources that are often unavailable or
unattainable.
To download the photo
options, please visit: https://bit.ly/3FDFNdX
For more information, please contact:
Victor Persius F. Chan
Assistant Vice President for Corporate Affairs
Corporate Affairs & Sustainability
(632) 8857-0100 local 0117
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