BY: RIZALIE A. CALIBO
SIQUIJOR, March 25 (PIA)— At least 202 barangay folks are recipients of the medical mission dubbed “Health and Wellness sponsored by IPI-Foundation, Inc. in cooperation with Department of Science and Technology (DOST), the Local Government Unit of the Municipality of Siquijor, IPHO and Barangay Poblacion recently at the Siquijor Capital Square.
The whole day activity was focused on medical consultation with free medicines courtesy from the IPI Foundation, Inc., upgrading of reading glasses, reflex and body massage, and livelihood opportunity forum.
The medical consultation attracted a total of 167 recipients, 132 of whom belong to 30 to 81 age bracket and 35 are children ranging from 1 to 7 years old.
A total of 97 individuals availed of the upgrading of eye glasses at a minimal cost of P40.00 as donation while 17 persons availed of the reflex and body massage.
On the other hand, livelihood opportunity related activity attracted 47 mixed groups from the SME’s, business enthusiast and walk-in clients who were interested in starting business from the DOST available technologies.
The beneficiaries come from the seven clustered barangays namely: Poblacion, Pangi, Candanay Sur, Tacdog, Canal, Pulangyuta, and Calalinan.
Some folks from nearby barangays who knew the activity also availed of the services.
The sponsors, according to DOST Provincial Director Mario de La Pena, thanked Dr. Consuelo A. Cinco who was present the whole day attending the medical consultation, the nurses from the Integrated Provincial Health Office (IPHO) and Rural Health Unit (RHU), Barangay Poblacion Health Workers and Siquijor Mayor Mei Ling Quezon who hosted the event and provided meals to the organizers.
In an interview, de la Pena said the undertaking is unique activity as it is not a mere medical mission but comprises services related to medical consultation, dental services, and other medical related activities.
“Health and Wellness” empowers the people to practice health and wellness through healthcare, environment protection, and livelihood, he said.
The sponsors’ ultimate goal is health care – to heal pain and illness, to improve underserved barangay folks’ quality of life through better hygiene, relief from pain, prevention from ailments and awareness on best healthcare practices for the people of Siquijor.
Second is environment- to heal nature, to prevent nature’s further deterioration through reducing wastes, reusing by-products, recycling and supporting sustainable environment protection and mitigation practices such as climate change adaptation.
And lastly, livelihood – to heal poverty. "We want to to develop programs to a more sustainable model which generates income for the barangay folks," he said. (rmn/RAC/PIA-Siquijor/MEP-DOST-Siquijor)