With the number of leptospirosis infections on the rise, Senator Christopher Go told those affected by the disease, particularly the underprivileged, to seek help from the Malasakit Centers.
Reports from National Kidney and Transplant Institute (NKTI) in Quezon City and San Lazaro Hospital (SLH) in Manila show that there have been over 500 documented cases of leptospirosis in the last six days alone.
The senator pointed to alarming statistics from the DOH showing that over 60% of leptospirosis patients treated at San Lazaro Hospital experience moderate to severe symptoms.
As chairperson of the Senate Health committee, Go reassured the public that they can receive assistance from Malasakit Centers which bring together representatives from the Department of Social Welfare and Development, Department of Health (DOH), PhilHealth and the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office.
He said these one-stop shops aim to support impoverished patients in reducing their hospital costs to the least possible amount, and additionally calling for vigilance and immediate preventive measures against leptospirosis with the onset of the rainy and typhoon season.
The senator is the principal author and sponsor of Republic Act No. 11463 or the Malasakit Centers Act of 2019, which institutionalized the Malasakit Centers program.
As of now, 166 Malasakit Centers are operational nationwide, poised to assist with patients’ medical expenses.
Furthermore, Go is pushing for the establishment of more Super Health Centers nationwide to enhance access to medical services, especially in rural areas, designed to offer primary care, consultations, and early disease detection.
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