JUVILYN Simbulan of Barangay San Nicolas, San Simon town, Pampanga has been suffering from hypertension for a few years now.
Simbulan's health condition requires her to regularly monitor her blood pressure via blood chemistry, which costs around P1,500 on private diagnostic clinics.
"It is really a burden to me and my family especially now that our livelihood was affected by the ongoing pandemic. The P1,500 that I will spend for blood chemistry can already buy several meals for my family," she said.
Fortunately for Simbulan, she need not to choose between her health and family's needs anymore as Councilor Romanoel "Dading" Santos offers free medical assistance to all Simonians.
Every Tuesday and Friday, all Simonians can avail of free blood chemistry, electrocardiography, X-ray and ultrasound at Santos' farm in Barangay Sta. Monica, San Simon town.
"This initiative of Councilor Dading is very helpful to us. We are able to save a big amount of money through his generosity in sharing his resources and expertise to us," said Simbulan, who was able to avail of the free services for the second time.
According to Santos, he started his regular medical mission immediately after he was elected as councilor in 2019.
"Prior to my election, I was helping my kabalens get free medical services at our small diagnostic clinic in Sta. Ana town, but when I was elected as councilor, I brought the free services closer to Simonians by visiting barangays every week," he said.
Due to the pandemic, Santos said he canceled the weekly medical mission in barangays and instead held it at his own farm.
"It may be a little inconvenient to beneficiaries but in this way, I can better ensure their safety because I can surely implement health protocols," he said.
Santos, who is also licensed medical technologist, said he really ensured the continuity of his program despite this pandemic because it is when the people need more medical assistance than ever.
"In this time of pandemic when everything is uncertain, our health is our most valuable wealth so I'm doing what I can to help my kabalens take care of their health," he said.
Bot Manansala, president of Barangay Health Workers (BHWs) in town, meanwhile, lauded the initiative of Santos to help Simonians in need of medical assistance.
"As BHWs, we are most aware that many residents who brush aside their ailments due to lack of financial resources but with this program of Councilor Dading, they are given opportunity to check on their health for free," she said.
To date, Santos said more than 5,000 residents from 14 barangays here have already benefitted from the medical mission.
He assured that it will be continuous until he still has resources and the support of BHWs who assist during every mission.
"We will continue to do this and even create other activities that will help in other ways our kabalens until we are allowed to do so," he said.