Recently, medical care was brought closer to low-income families in Cagayan. The SM Foundation, Inc. (SMFI) recognizes that providing medical care transforms the lives of individuals and communities. Hence, it has made its mission to travel from Luzon to Mindanao to provide free medical care and services. These free services cater to thousands of patients from various hard-pressed communities. The medical mission team headed to the cities of Tuguegarao and Cauayan.
Strength To Do More
One of the recipients of the medical mission is Roland Bariuan. Roland has been a tricycle driver in Tuguegarao City since 1994. But, two years ago, he suddenly felt weak and had to spend money on medical consultations and examinations.
“Napansin ko na kahit malakas ako kumain, namamayat ako at nanghihina. Nalaman ko na may diabetes na po ako. Pero hindi pwedeng pabayaan ko ang sarili ko. Hindi pwedeng maging tamad ako dahil may sakit ako. Kung tamad po ako mamasada, wala kaming pangaraw-araw at gagastushin pambili ng gamot,” he shared.
Determined to care for his health, he goes to the city health office for his routine checkups. The same drive to boost his health is also what led him to SM group’s medical mission, led by SMFI: “Dahil magastos po magpagamot, kadalasan po akong pumunta sa city health office para sa lahat ng aking checkups. Ngayon, nataon pong nalaman kong mayroon medical mission dito sa SM City Tuguegarao.”
Through the medical mission, he received a free consultation, some blood tests, an x-ray, and medicines. These services would break the bank if he had it done elsewhere. With the assistance extended to him, he had no worries about the finances and even managed to put aside money originally allotted for medicine and laboratory tests.
“Ang kinikita ko sa pamamasada ang ginagamit ko at ng pamilya ko para sa aming pangangailangan. Kaya mahalaga sa akin ang aking kalusugan. Ang magandang pangangatawan ang nagbibigay sa akin ng lakas para mas lalo pang pagsumikapan ang pamamasada,” he said.
“Pero bilang tricycle driver, hindi namin maiiwasang magkasakit dahil usok ang kasabayan namin sa pamamasada. Kaya malaking tulong ang libreng check-up sa ang libreng gamot mula sa SM Foundation. Malaking tulong ito dahil kahit papaano, hindi ko muna iisipin ang pang gamot ko.”
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