SAN FERNANDO CITY, La Union (PIA) – A total of 3,326 beneficiaries received health and medical care from the Department of Health (DOH) Ilocos during the Bagong Pilipinas Serbisyo Fair held at the Mariano Marcos State University in Laoag City, Ilocos Norte over the weekend.
The DOH regional office, together with its five hospitals, namely Mariano Marcos Memorial Hospital and Medical Center, Ilocos Training and Regional Medical Center, Region 1 Medical Center, Ilocos Sur Medical Center, and Conrado F. Estrella Regional Medical and Trauma Center provided a variety of essential provisions such as consultation services; diagnostic services; laboratory services; and vaccination.
Meanwhile, 648 pregnant mothers received five kilograms of iron-fortified rice each to help strengthen their immune system.
Other logistics distributed to beneficiaries were 458 Herbal Medicine Access Program (HerbMAP) kits, 110 wheelchairs, 23 Barangay Health Station packages plus an oral health family package, and an adult oral health kit.
A total of 33 applicants also applied for the DOH scholarship which offers courses in Pharmacy and Medical Technology.
DOH Ilocos regional director Paula Paz Sydiongco said, “Bringing essential health care to people in communities helps them gain access to needed health resources and addresses the various needs of the population, especially those living in remote areas and its benefit extends to the community itself, to schools, businesses, and public places. Also, money from transportation services is saved, absenteeism from work is reduced, mental health improves and the spread of disease declines.”
“Nagpapasalamat kami sa mga dumalo at tumangkilik ng serbisyong pangkalusugan at makakaasa po ang mga residente ng Ilocos region na patuloy po naming dadalhin ang mga serbisyong ito sa inyong mga lugar upang lahat ay mapaglingkuran at maibigay ang kanilang mga kinakailangan para sa kanilang kalusugan,” she said.
Sydiongco also awarded a check amounting to P2,236,710 to the provincial government of Ilocos Norte for the implementation of the 2023 Healthy Settings Program (Health Communities: Bakuna Champion Playbook).
DOH assistant secretary, Atty. Charade Mercado-Grande, who joined the activity, encouraged residents to take good care of their health and well-being by regularly visiting a physician.
“Libre po ang mga consultation sa ating mga Rural Health Units at mga pampublikong hospital. May nararamdaman man po kayo or wala, lalo na ang ating mga seniors at sa mga may maintenance medicine upang masiguro ang inyong kalusugan. Huwag na po nating antayin na magkaroon tayo ng malubhang karamdaman. Ang importante po ay ating maiwasan ito at mapanatili ang malusog na pangangatawan,” she emphasized.
In its aim to bring government services closer to the Filipino people, the administration of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. will bring the Bagong Pilipinas Serbisyo Fair service caravan to all 82 provinces in the Philippines following the resounding success of its launching on September 23, Saturday.
The BPSF is the country’s biggest service caravan aimed at providing major government services to less fortunate Filipinos in various communities across the country. (JCR/AMB/PIA Region 1)
