CLARK FREEPORT -- Lubao Mayor Esmeralda Pineda has been providing assistance to dialysis patients in her hometown as part of her health programs.
"Aside from providing maintenance medicines for dialysis patients, we also provide dialysis sessions to our indigent constituents," Pineda said during the Pampanga Press Club's recent media briefing at Park Inn by Radisson Clark.
Pineda is the sister of Pampanga Governor Dennis Pineda and Provincial Board Member Mylyn Pineda-Cayabyab, and daughter of Vice Governor Lilia "Nanay" Pineda. They all served as Lubao mayors at different periods.
The vice-governor has been known to prioritize health programs for indigent Kapampangans since she started public office.
"Whatever health programs Nanay and my sister Mylyn have started, I continue them while at the same time, looking at other aspects where I can add more services for the benefit of Lubaoenos," the mayor said.
She said Lubao town has a dialysis center but it has limited capacity. She mentioned that Governor Pineda has plans to increase the number of dialysis centers in the province.
"While we're waiting for that, for the meantime, we will continue to provide assistance to our people who have renal problems," she said.
Aside from dialysis assistance, Pineda's health programs also include anti-dengue efforts like information dissemination and fogging to avoid the spread of the mosquito-borne disease.
Her other priority is education. She has plans to put up additional high schools in several barangays in Lubao town.