BAGUIO CITY (PIA) -- The City Government of Baguio,  the Department of Health and the Baguio General Hospital and Medical Center, and various  partners hosted a health fair for  senior citizens at the SM City Baguio in  celebration of the 2023 Elderly Filipino Week.
 
Office of the Senior Citizens Affairs Head Officer Laurito Alinao said that the health fair  that opened on  October 5  was aimed  to ensure that the elderly are healthy through the provision of various free services.
 
“Daytoy nga event gamin, ti kayat na nga sawen, mangted iti salun-at iti kaadwan nga senior citizen. Ammo  tayo met nga nangina ti agas, nangina ti agpaospital. Isu nga daytoy nga event ti City Government of Baguio through the City Health Service ket libre nga serbisyo,” Alinao said.

The health fair offered free services including dental, eye, and ear check-ups, geriatric assessments, nutrition evaluations, flu vaccination, bone scan, and anemia screenings as well as   haircuts and massages.  There were also  orientation and assistance for registration to PhilHealth Konsulta and the senior citizens online database.

Around 1,000 senior citizens availed of the various services in the fair that continued until October 7.
   
Said activity was also in partnership with the SM Baguio, Nutritionist Dietitian’s Association of the Philippines-Baguio-Benguet Chapter, National Nutrition Council- CAR, TESDA, Dizon Vision Clinic, National Commission of Senior Citizens, PhilHealth, Abott, Beltone, and Unilab.
 
Milagros Agnote  who participated in the first day of the health fair expressed her appreciation for this activity.  “Maganda at nagpapasalamat din kami na mga seniors kasi meron mga ganito na libreng vaccine at libreng check-up," she said.  
 
Another elderly, Lilia Dulay , said the health fair is a big help in broadening their knowledge about health-related topics. “Malaking bagay sa amin, nakaka-boost ng moral kasi marami kaming nalalaman at natutunan sa mga sinasabi nila,” Dulay shared.
 
This year’s Elderly Filipino Week carried the theme, “Honoring the Invaluable Legacy of the Filipino Senior Citizens". (JDP/DEG-PIA CAR/Regel Ferrer- SLU Intern) (Photos: Hanna Honorio, SLU Intern)