PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and first lady Liza Araneta-Marcos on Friday led the turnover of 28 Bagong Pilipinas mobile clinics to recipient provinces in a simple rite at the Manila North Harbor.
The mobile clinics aim to bring primary health care services to geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas across the country.
The project was inspired by the first lady’s “Lab for All” initiative.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and first lady Liza Araneta-Marcos lead the turnover of 28 mobile clinics for the provinces in Regions 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, and BARMM during a ceremony at the Manila North Harbor Sept 20, 2024. They were joined by Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa, Interior and Local Government Secretary Benhur Abalos Jr., Philippine Port Authority chief Jay Santiago, and 2 GO Chief Financial Officer Will Howell.
PHOTO BY RENE H. DILAN
“For those of us who live in the city or town, it’s easy to say that going to the hospital or the clinic is just a quick trip. But in other parts of the country, getting there is like a complicated journey,” the President said in his speech.
“Sometimes, they need to take a boat, walk for several hours, pray that they will arrive safely, and pay the fare. Here, we can see that the enemy is not just distance but time, fatigue, hunger, fear, and expenses,” he added.
The President said the initiative was part of the government’s long-term plan to improve the health sector.
“Through the mobile clinics and with the help of the local government, we hope to bring medical services closer to areas that have long needed more attention, the geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas or what we call GIDA,” Marcos said.
During the ceremony, the President and the first lady led the send-off of the first 14 mobile clinics to Cagayan de Oro City via roll-on/roll-off vessel. The rest would be transported to General Santos City the following day.
Among the recipient provinces were Zamboanga del Norte, Zamboanga del Sur, Zamboanga, Camiguin, Misamis Occidental, Misamis Oriental, Lanao del Norte, Bukidnon, Davao Oriental, Davao Occidental, Davao del Norte, Davao del Sur, Davao de Oro, South Cotabato, North Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Sarangani, Agusan del Sur, Agusan del Norte, Surigao del Sur, Surigao del Norte, Dinagat Islands, Basilan, Lanao del Sur, Maguindanao del Norte, Maguindanao del Sur, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi.
Each mobile clinic is equipped with a digital X-ray machine, portable ultrasound machine, hematology analyzer, chemistry analyzer, binocular microscope, clinical centrifuge and generator set.
The deployment of mobile clinics was among the initiatives Marcos promised during his third State of the Nation Address in July.
Be the first to comment