THE Ministry of Social Services and Development in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (MSSD-Barmm) has provided a P10-million financial assistance to the Amai PakPak Medical Center (APMC) in Marawi City to help indigent patients in the region.
MSSD Minister Raissa Jajurie and Dr. Shalimar Rakiin, APMC hospital chief, signed on Monday, September 7, a memorandum of agreement (MOA) for the provision of the medical assistance, which will cover the hospitalization, laboratories, and medicines of qualified patients.
"The Ministry continues to respond to the pressing poverty and health challenges in Barmm especially in these trying times," Jajurie said.
"This medical assistance is a big help to Barmm residents in their hospital bills, (avail themselves of) medicines as well as laboratory tests. We hope that this support can help ease the daily burden of our brothers and sisters amidst Covid-19 pandemic," she added.
"Malaking tulong po sa mga indigent patients ng Lanao del Sur and Marawi City ang medical assistance provided by MSSD-Barmm," Rakiin said.
"Ang isang maganda po sa naging MOA namin ay for the first time na may provision for a minimal transportation and food packs for indigent admitted patients," she added.
Jajurie said the financial aid is part of MSSD's Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS) program under the Emergency Assistance Program Fund.
Jajurie said it is a series of medical assistance provision among vulnerable hospitals all over Barmm.
MSSD earlier provided a similar cash assistance amounting to P10 million to Cotabato Regional and Medical Center in Cotabato city.
Jajuri said that this week, the MSSD will target hospitals covering the 63 villages in North Cotabato, and those in the island provinces of Basilan, Sulu, and Tawi-Tawi. (SunStar Zamboanga)