“Biyaya kayo ng langit, malaking tulong po talaga ito sa aming mahihirap,” a tearful Nardo Silva said as he spoke about his child’s urgent need for medical care.
Nardo was one of the 669 beneficiaries in Pampanga who received medical assistance during a two-day Tulong-Medikal caravan organized by the offices of Senators Alan Peter and Pia Cayetano.
“Kailangan niya pong madialysis, kasi malalason na po y’ung dugo niya,” he related, grateful that his children would receive free dialysis and their hospital bill would be covered.
“Maraming maraming salamat po,” he added.
On the first day of the caravan, May 22, 2024, patients with conditions such as hypertension, diabetes, respiratory diseases, urinary tract infections, and abdominal pain as well as pregnant women received necessary medical care.
Janeth Dabo, one of the 235 beneficiaries, was relieved to learn that her mammogram expenses would be covered by the medical caravan.
“Salamat po sa tulong medikal para maagapan po agad ang karamdamang mayroon kami,” Janeth said.
Another beneficiary, Rachel Ann Lozano, was worried about the hospital bill of her mother, who had been confined for two weeks.
“Si mother po kasi, mayroon sakit sa puso at Type 2 diabetes, tapos po nagkaroon naman siya ng mass sa tagiliran na inoperahan po. Dahil po doon, talagang lumaki po ang bill namin,” she explained.
“Kung hindi po dahil sa inyo, hindi po namin mababayaran ang bill namin,” she added.
On the second day, May 23, 2024, the caravan extended help to 434 more patients who received assistance for medical services such as laboratory tests, ultrasound, x-ray, ECG, 2D-echo, mammogram, colonoscopy, as well as coverage of hospital bills and medicines, among others.
Several cities in Pampanga were served during the two-day medical caravan, including Lubao, Sasmuan, Guagua, Sta. Rita, and Floridablanca.
This extension of medical assistance by the sibling senators is under the Medical Assistance to Indigent and Financially Incapacitated Patients (MAIFIP) Program of the Department of Health, which aids indigent and financially incapacitated patients in covering their medical expenses.
The success of the two-day medical caravan in Pampanga was attributed to the help and active participation of the local government of Pampanga headed by Governor Dennis Pineda and Vice Governor Lilia Pineda, alongside Escolastica Romero District Hospital Chief Dr. Zenon Ponce.
Committed to their advocacy of providing medical assistance to Filipinos in need, the Cayetanos continue to visit various areas nationwide to ensure aid reaches those requiring such support.
