More than 500 patients availed of free medical, dental, optometry services and medicines in a medical mission in Talisay Elementary School in Daanbantayan on January 7, 2017 conducted by the Visayas Primary Healthcare Services, Inc.
Beneficiaries were senior citizens and persons with disabilities who were affected by Typhoon Yolanda coming from the barangay and neighboring barangays.
The missions is funded by the Presbyterian Disaster Assistance, the emergency and refugee program of the Presbyterian Church – U.S.A. as a part of its project implemented by the Women’s Resource Center of Visayas, Inc. (WRCV), “Inclusive Development for the Vulnerable Senior Citizens and Persons with Disabilities in the Municipalities of Daanbantayan and Medellin, Cebu.
Previous medical missions were conducted in September to December 2016 as part of the project in Barangays Dayhagon, Canhabagat, Tindog, Mahawak in Medellin, and Agujo, Bitoon, Calape, Bagay, Maya, Paypay, Talisay, and Tapilon of Daanbantayan.
The project coordinates with the local government units, senior citizens associations and associations of persons with disability, and rural health units of the barangays and municipalities.
Services in the medical mission included medical consultations, blood sugar testing for diabetes screening, visual acuity check-up, dental check up and tooth extraction, urinalysis and giving of reading glasses.
The mission team included medical doctors, dentists, nurses, optometrists, post-graduate interns, medical interns, dental students, community health workers and barangay health workers.
Before the missions, the staff of WRCV and VPHCS ensured the preparation of the missions, conducted consultations with local government units, organizations of the senior citizens and persons with disabilities and disseminated information to the beneficiaries and looked for patients who needed medical care.
All patients were properly given medicines bought with funds from the Presbyterian Disaster Assistance.
In general, the mission was indeed successful and the patients expressed their appreciation and gratitude to the team. For the team members, it was also a meaningful experience for them to have served the senior citizens, persons with disabilities and residents of the community who are continuing to strive hard to live a decent life after the devastation of Typhoon Yolanda.