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DOH, Capitol bring primary care services to Kapampangans

LUBAO, Pampanga (PIA) -- Sixty-four year-old Enrique Lopez lined up at the Pampanga provincial temporary treatment and monitoring facility in Lubao town as early as 6 o’clock in the morning to seek medical help for his blurring eyesight.
 
At about one o’clock in the afternoon, after enduring long lines, he was finally able to undergo an ophthalmic exam, and found out later that cataracts are developing on both of his eyes.
 
Lopez, together with about 1,200 other Kapampangans were able to get proper medical aid with the help of the Department of Health (DOH) and the provincial government which provided comprehensive primary care services to all in need.
 
Health OIC-Secretary Maria Rosario Vergeire underscored that it is vital to mainstream the concept of primary care as many Filipinos are not given equal access to healthcare services. 
 
“Primary care and preventive care is our direction right now. If we do not start to prevent the illnesses of the people today, we will come to the point that the sick will just opt to die at home, will just opt to stay at home without receiving any kind of medical attention,” she said.
 
Data from DOH suggest that about 35 percent of ill individuals are dying at home for not being able to be treated in hospitals.
 
With this, Vegeire highlighted that residents should be given access to cost-effective, promotive and preventive health services to reduce financial risk from the high costs of availing specialized health services.

Enrique Lopez, 64-year-old resident from Sto. Tomas town is one of the 1,200 other Kapampangans who were able to get proper medical aid from the Department of Health and provincial government of Pampanga. (Paul John Lopez/PIA 3)

“We have tapped the participation of key stakeholders outside the health sector, particularly our local government units, to shift the demand from curative and hospital care to preventive, promotive, and integrated primary care. With the cooperation of our partners, realizing our dream of accessible healthcare services for all Filipinos is well within reach,” she added.
 
To cater residents in far-flung areas, Philippine Business for Social Progress turned over a primary care van to DOH Region 3 for the provision of various primary care services including consultations, immunization and nutrition for infants, provision of free medicines, screening and diagnosis of common communicable and non-communicable diseases, and health education and counseling on risk factors and diseases.
 
Lopez, a resident of barangay San Matias in Sto. Tomas town is a beneficiary of the Alagang Nanay Preventive Healthcare program by the Capitol.
 
Vice Governor Lilia Pineda explained that the program aims to avoid the worsening of illnesses of the Kapampangans by giving them free medication as early as possible.
 
“This will not only help us in preventing illnesses, but it will also aid the capitol in saving up millions to pay for the expenses on hospital bills,” she stated.
 
With cataracts on both of his eyes, Lopez was scheduled for a lens replacement surgery which he can avail at low or no cost through the help of the provincial government and the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation.
 
“I am very thankful that I am given a free-check up and food packs. I am happy that Vice Governor Lilia Pineda has a program like this. I hope that this will be continuous to provide services for the people who cannot afford to have their health checked like me,” he said. (MJSC/JLDC-PIA 3)
 

Health OIC-Secretary Maria Rosario Vergeire underscores that it is vital to mainstream the concept of primary care as many Filipinos are not given equal access to healthcare services. (Paul John Lopez/PIA 3)

About the Author

Jag Lyra Costamero

Information Officer I

Region 3

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