CITY OF SAN FERNANDO – More than a thousand residents benefited from a medical and dental mission held by the SM Foundation at SM City Telabastagan in this city.
The “Gamot Para sa Kapwa” program, under the SM Foundation Inc. which is the charitable arm of the SM Supermalls, aims to provide ancillary services to communities that have limited or no access to such services, to give literacy programs to enable communities and individuals to prevent and manage diseases and illnesses after the medical mission, and to provide an avenue to encourage health advocacy, multi-sectoral coordination and community participation.
Beneficiaries availed free blood pressure check-up, bloodtyping, blood sugar testing and monitoring, height and weight check-up.
This year’s activity was spearheaded by SM Foundation Senior Project Manager of Health and Medical Program Dr. Bless Bertos in partnership with City Health Office headed by Dr. Eloisa Aquino with project coordinator Alfred Goingco, City Social Welfare and Development, Philippine Red Cross San Fernando Chapter and volunteer doctors and dentists of Jose B. Lingad Hospital.
Services offered include medical check-up and treatment, blood pressure check-up and dental check-up including extraction.
Through the SM Foundation Mobile Clinic, diagnostic and laboratory services were also provided such as chest X-ray and Electro Cardiograph (ECG). Apart from these medical services, free medicines for common illnesses and vitamins were distributed to patients as prescribed by doctors.
Gamot Para sa Kapwa is conducted yearly by SM malls in coordination with its barangay health center counterpart, the Felicidad T. Sy Wellness Center.