By Pamela Mariz Geminiano/ PNA NEWS
BAGUIO CITY — A total of 14,250 indigents from 15 districts have received free medical services from a non-government organization as a Christmas gift to the urban poor here.
The group, MediKalinga of retired police general Benjamin Magalong, also provided the indigents free tooth extraction and free dentures.
“We all know that not everyone can afford to acquire medical services, so we decided to sponsor them with our non-government organization. This is one of our ways to help our communities’ indigents,” Magalong told the Philippine News Agency (PNA) on Friday, a day after they distributed eyeglasses to beneficiaries from District 11.
Each district consists of five to seven barangays (villages). Baguio has 20 districts composed of 128 barangays.
Magalong said MediKalinga began giving free medical services and dental check-up, eye check-up, eyeglasses, minor eye surgery, other minor surgeries, circumcision, medicines for children and adults, free haircut and massage therapy, along with a feeding program, on November 19. It will end on January 16.
He said they accommodate between 700 and 800 patients from each district.
“What is new? We give free dentures to 100 indigent patients in each district who cannot avail of the services of dentists,” Magalong said, adding that their group also gave out 300 free patient-specific eyeglasses during the outreach activity.
He said originally, they were just planning to conduct at least three missions. However, with the positive reception form the indigents, they decided to continue their advocacy.
“We are limiting our dentures to 100 recipients per mission, and 300 for eyeglasses,” he said.
To date, wellness missions have been conducted in 15 districts. Another will be held at the Bakakeng Central covered court on January 7 for indigents from District 14 covering barangays Bakakeng Central, Bakakeng Norte/Sur, Dontogan, SLU-SVP, Santo Tomas Proper, and Santo Tomas School Area.
On January 8, the activity will be held at the Guisad Surong Barangay hall for indigents of District 7 or barangays Guisad Central, Cresencia Village, Guisad Surong, Lower Magsaysay, Padre Burgos, Padre Zamora, Pinsao Pilot Project, and Santo Niño Compound.
On January 9, the outreach will be conducted at the Aguinaldo Park basketball court for indigents of District 10 barangays — Harrison-Carantes, Lower General Luna, Malcolm Square, Salud Mitra, Session Road, and Upper General Luna.
The remaining schedules will be on January 14 at Upper Irisan, January 15 at lower Irisan and January 16 for District 16 covering Middle Quezon Hill, Pinsao Proper, Quezon Hill Proper, Upper Quezon Hill and Victoria Village.
Magalong assured that this will be a continuing effort to help the indigents.
Magalong was the former head of the investigative body formed by the national government to probe the massacre of 44 Special Action Force troopers in Mamasapano, Maguindanao in January 2015.
