Abono, Senator Chiz conduct medical missions

By Virgilio Sar. Maganes

ALCALA – The Abono Party List and the Office of Senator Francis ‘Chiz’ Escudero conducted a medical-dental mission here last November 22.

The mission was intended to provide medical assistance to the residents here which include dental services, medical consultation, optical services and free medicines.

Mayor Manuel Collado and the members of the Sangguniang Bayan expressed their thanks to Abono and Escudero for having their town as the venue of the activities.

“This mission is a great help to our constituents. With the high cost of medical services and medicines, our people are greatly benefited from the mission,” Collado said.

More than 1,500 patients availed of the different medical services.

Annie Cuaresma, 29 , married with three children and a resident of San Pedro Apartado village, has her tooth extracted.

“Malaking bagay itong medical-dental mission ng Abono. Kung sa pribadong dentista ako pumunta, gagastos ako ng mga P300,” she said. ( This medical-dental mission of the Abono is a big help. If I went to a private dentist, I will spend P300).

Evelyn Viernes, 27, married with three children of Curareng village was suffering from upper respiratory infections (URI). She said that she can now take medicines to stop her constant coughing.

“Libre ang gamot, kaya tuloy-tuloy ang pag-inum ko nito,” she said. (Medicines are given free, that’s why my medication is continuous).

On pediatric cases, whooping cough and fever are prevalent among the children. Municipal Health Officer Shirante Parayno attributed these cases to the sudden change of weather.

“We are now entering the cold month period, that’s why children are susceptible to slight fever and colds,” he said.

Cough syrup, multivitamins and antibiotics were given free to pediatric cases.

Optical services were provided by Malicdem Optical of Dagupan City. Volunteer opticians conducted free eye refraction and sold eyeglasses at discounted prices at P150.

Medical doctors, dentists and nurses from the City Health Office of San Carlos City, Rural Health Unit of Alcala, Bayambang District Hospital and Del Carmen Hospital volunteered their services to the said medical mission. They were assisted by the Barangay Health Workers (BHWs) of the town.

Abono also conducted simultaneous medical-dental missions in the towns of Umingan, Tayug and San Nicolas last November 25.

More than 2000 residents in these areas availed of the medical and dental services.

Abono President Ponciano V. Onia, Jr. said that the simultaneous medical-dental missions were conducted in order not to defy Commission on Elections (Comelec) ruling that once a candidate has filed his certificate of candidacy (COC), activities similar that of medical missions are not allowed. To do so will become a basis of disqualification.

The Abono will be filing its certificate of candidacy on November 27 at the Comelec’s main office in Intramuros, Manila.