TACLOBAN CITY (CIO 02/20/2020) — At least 400 Taclobanons availed of the free services of the medical and dental mission spearheaded by the Filipino-Canadian Medical Association (FCMA) in partnership with the City Government of Tacloban through the leadership of Mayor Alfred S. Romualdez at the Tacloban City Hospital on February 20, 2020.

The patients who were pre-screened for the medical outreach program came from the different barangays and availed of free Dental services, reading glasses, medical consultation, and medicines.

The Technical Education Skills Development Authority (TESDA) also offered free massage services during the outreach activity.

Current President of the FCMA, Dr. Ryan Figueroa, a Filipino-Canadian whose family roots are from Tacloban said that the outreach program has been held four times previously in Tacloban targeting indigent residents in need of medical care.

“We have been coming back to Tacloban for four years now since Yolanda, and we have been trying to help the indigent people of Tacloban and other places as well because it is a need that needs to be met. Healthcare should be a priority…” said Figueroa.

He added that this year’s medical mission had 6 doctors specializing in Family Medicine to provide primary healthcare, such as blood pressure and diabetes checks, acute cases like cough and colds, among others and free medications were dispensed to the patients.

The association raises funds for the outreach program through fundraisers such as Galas and donations from pharmaceutical companies in Canada.

Among the volunteers of the outreach program was the Helping Hand Philippines which train Barangay Health Workers on childhood growth monitoring and immunization, and other health services.

According to its founding President Dr. Michael Bartucci, the non-government organization’s goal is for the long-term health rehabilitation of typhoon Yolanda survivors in the permanent resettlement sites.

Meantime, around 400 patients from nearby towns also trooped to the TCH on Tuesday to avail of the free services of the medical mission. H.J. Roca/CIO

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