ANGELES CITY The city government is set to provide free medical services to female persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) in the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) compound here on March 20, 2023.
Mayor Carmelo “Pogi” Lazatin Jr., ordered members of the City Health Office to conduct the free examinations, pap smear, breast examinations, and Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) tests on 221 female PDLs.
This is the first time that medical services for female PDLs will be conducted for free.
Lazatin will sponsor the medical services. He allotted 50,000 from his own salary to provide the tests.
Lazatin's chief adviser, IC Calaguas, and Executive Assistant IV Reina Manuel will donate 30,000 to augment the mayor' funds.
Lazatin said he wants to ensure the health and welfare of the people inside the jail.
“First time po itong gaganaping libreng pap smear, breast examination at HIV test dahil hanggad ni Mayor Pogi na mapanatiling maayos ang kalusugan ng mga PDLs natin,” Gender and Development Officer Mina Cabiles said.
Lazatin instructed Cabiles and the City Health Officer (CHO), Dr. Verona Guevarra, to bring the services to the PDLs using two mobile bus clinics.
BJMP Female Dormitory Jail Senior Inspector Cecilia Tamayo expressed her gratitude to Lazatin and city hall executives for the program.
Cabiles said the free pap smear, breast examination and HIV tests are part of the observance of this year’s National Women’s month celebration.
The city government provided 1,650 women with free pap smears and breast examination throughout the campaign which started last March 1.
Pap smear is a medical test conducted to detect cervical cancer.
The mayor said just like his father, Congressman Carmelo “Tarzan” Lazatin, grandfather Apung Feleng, and brother, First District Congressman Carmelo “Jon” Lazatin II, he prioritizes health services in his administration.