MANDALUYONG CITY  -- On April 18 to 23, during the fourth week since the Philippine Red Cross Health Caravan started its operations, 2344 clients and patients from North Cotabato, Manila, Pangasinan, Misamis Oriental, Bulacan, Quezon, and Lucena availed themselves free medical and health services.

An idea of the PRC Chairman and CEO, Senator Richard “Dick” J. Gordon, the Health Caravan aims to ensure that Filipinos have access to essential health services and information, especially during the pandemic, when many families are experiencing financial and logistical constraints.

“Bukod sa bakuna at RT-PCR, tuluy-tuloy ang gawain ng Red Cross para maibigay ang essential health and medical services sa ating mga kababayan, lalo na ngayong panahon ng pandemya," Chairman Gordon said. He added that the people should still observe government-mandated health protocols, in view of the rising Covid-19 cases reported by the Department of Health last week.
 
A tri-partnership with the local governments and the beauty expert Ricky Reyes, the PRC Health Caravan offers any combination of the following services: COVID-19 vaccinations and boosters, first-aid lectures with demos, medical consultations, hygiene promotion, health promotion and disease prevention, blood typing, bloodletting, blood sugar tests, and eye check-ups. Hot meals are also served and loaves of bread are distributed. Free health kits, dental kits, and reading glasses are also given.

On April 18-22, 523 clients and patients in North Cotabato, 450 in Manila, 316 in Pangasinan, 300 in Misamis Oriental, 380 in Bulacan, and 375 in the Quezon-Lucena area went out of their houses to take advantage of the services and provisions offered by the PRC Health Caravan. The PRC Health Caravan has alreday served 7,751 clients across the country since it started in March 2022. (Philippine Red Cross)