SAN JOSE, Occidental Mindoro (PIA) – The Philippine Neurological Association (PNA) South Luzon Chapter, in partnership with the Municipal Health Office (MHO) of San Jose, conducted a Neurological Medical Mission and Lay Forum recently held at the St. Joseph Parish Training Center.

Spearheaded by 14 doctors from PNA, the activity provided free consultation to 101 patients in San Jose with neurological conditions such as stroke, epilepsy, seizure, and Alzheimer's disease. According to Dr. Lordivino T. Mesina, OIC Municipal Health Officer, the medical mission was initiated by PNA, and was the first neurological reach-out to the municipality. 

“Kaya nila (PNA) napili [na dito magsagawa ng medical mission ay] dahil walang neurologist dito sa ating bayan [ng San Jose] at sa [buong] probinsya. Ang pinakamalapit [na neurologist] ay sa Calapan [City, in Oriental Mindoro], kaya malaking help na napuntahan nila tayo rito,” 

(The reason why PNA chose to conduct the medical mission in San Jose is because there is no neurologist in the municipality and in the whole province. The nearest neurologist is in Calapan City in Oriental Mindoro, that is why it is a great help that they visited us.)

Mesina added that as per the PNA, the group is planning to return to San Jose after six months to provide accessible consultation as there are many people with neurological cases in the municipality who need services.

“Advocacy nila ito, parang community service, na magreach-out doon sa mga neurologist-less na mga lugar (It is their advocacy, like community service, to reach out to areas without neurologists), ” he explained.

In addition to the medical mission, the team also conducted a lay forum for more than 150 Barangay Health Workers to inform the public on the warning signs of neurological cases and capacitate them on how to respond to possible cases they might encounter.

San Jose Mayor Rey C. Ladaga, and staff from the local government unit were also present during the activity. (DSG/PIA MIMAROPA)