Saturday, October 24, 2015

IP community benefits from Maguindanao medical-dental outreach program

From the Philippine News Agency (Oct 24): IP community benefits from Maguindanao medical-dental outreach program

About 1,000 indigent residents of a remote village in the upland town of Upi in Maguindanao benefited from a day-long medical-dental outreach program of Maguindanao provincial government Friday.

The Peoples Medical Team of the provincial government, led by health action officer Lynette Estandarte, also distributed medicine and vitamins to indigent residents of sub-villages of Teminduro, Kifuyen, Linayen, Kapitao, Kifuyen, Lower and Upper Duka, all in Barangay Kiga.

“The beneficiaries were all members of Indigenous Peoples community who have not seen a doctor since birth,” Estandarte told reporters after the day-long activity.

Accompanying the physicians, nurses and midwives were members of the Philippine Marines medical unit and the Parish Pastoral Council of Upi.

“The communities were so isolated, far flung and reaching the area through several hours of walking and horseback riding was already an accomplishment for us government servants,” Estandarte added.

“As if we were close to heaven,” Estandarte said in jest after reaching upland sub-villages.

Ato Sublig, one of the beneficiaries, said he still could not believe a government medical team could reach his community and extended medical services.

“Malayo itong lugar namin, mahirap ang daan pero narating po ninyo, wala na kami masabi kundi salamat (Our community is very isolated, roads going here are difficult and yet they are here, I cannot say anything more but appreciate the efforts),” Sublig said.

Estandarte said the peoples medical team will also conduct similar activity Monday in the sub-village of Rizal, Barangay Kauran, Ampatuan, Maguindanao.

“We do this outreach program in celebration of IP month this October,” she said.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=819005

No comments:

Post a Comment

Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.