THE "Healthy Pinas" mobile clinic initiated by Senator Risa Hontiveros and Pampanga-based businessman Dr. Irineo Alvaro hosted on Tuesday, May 18, a medical mission in Concepcion, Tarlac to help poor people living in far-flung areas.
Hontiveros, who was welcomed by town and village officials, said: “This is our little way of helping people especially during the pandemic.”
She said they gave free medical diagnostics and tests such as x-ray, blood chem, ECG, ultrs sound and other tests.
“Our project is very timely because people are now afraid of going to hospitals due to the spread of the Covid-19. They also don’t need to spend money for their check-up,” said the first-term senator who is expected to seek re-election next year.
The project, which was recently launched in Barangay Turu in Magalang, Pampanga, is sponsored by the office of Hontiveros and the Bridges of Benevolent Initiatives Foundation (BBIF) of Midori Hotel Clark headed by Alvaro.
The mobile clinic has also provided medical services to villagers in the towns of Dinalupihan, Bataan and San Simon, Pampanga recently.
Alvaro said people will spend as much as P20,000 for the medical services they offer for free.
“This is needed so that we will know if we need to improve something in our body. We know very well Covid-19 attacks a weak body of a person,” said Alvaro.
Alvaro was born and raised in Barangay San Jose, Concepcion, Tarlac where the medical mission was held. People greeted him warmly when he arrived at the San Jose covered court.
He said they will also hold the same mobile medical mission in Nueva Ecija and Paniqui in Tarlac. It was also held in Dinalupihanm Bataan.
“We hope to reach many places in the whole of Luzon. We want to sustain this project,” he added.
Lawyer Joel Baluyut, vice mayor of Concepcion, expressed gratitude to Hontiveros and Alvaro for deciding to hold the medical mission in their town.
He said he had asked them to do the same project soon. (Chris Navarro)