Author: Jun Ariolo Aguirre (305 Articles)

By: REX A. TALABUCON

Some 250 indigent patients from 5 barangays in Kalibo, Aklan benefited from a medical mission conducted last Tuesday by the group of Senator Mar Roxas in coordination with the town’s local officials.
The medical mission, which was held at the school in Brgy. Pook, provided medical services to mostly senior citizens, children, and residents with ailments. On top of that, patients were given medicines.
Sen. Roxas has trained his attention to another aspect of the Filipinos’ day-to-day life: health.
Believing this need is as important as other things that people need to satisfy become healthy and productive citizens, Roxas has initiated medical missions to bring basic health services to people’s communities.
Mrs. Judy Araneta-Roxas said her son Mar will sustain the medical mission project to reach as many poor Filipinos who need basic health care as much as possible in keeping with his commitment to look after the general well-being and needs of Filipinos, especially in the midst of the global economic slowdown.
The crisis may have led some people to think that government may not be able to look after their health needs because it would prioritize other things, thus leaving less-privileged to fend off for themselves.
“Mar is advocating for good health, that’s why he worked hard for the passage of the Cheaper Medicines Act,” Mrs. Roxas said.
Mrs. Roxas also said that Mar is also working for the establishment of “Botika sa Barangay” in all barangays.
Senator Roxas has answered the call of the time. He is just around – everyone’s “Mr. Botika ng Bayan.”
The medical mission was organized by former Aklan lone District Representative Allen Quimpo in cooperation with Pook Elementary School principal Loraine Pallada and barangay officials from Pook, Mabilo, Caano, Nalook and Briones.
The medical mission was supervised by the doctors and health care professionals led by Mayor Kathyrene Refol, M.D. of Altavas town, Josephine Garcia, MD of RHU Kalibo and Anthony Redaniel of RHU Altavas.
Former Board Member Franklin Quimpo, Kalibo SB members Mark Quimpo and Lilian Tirol, meanwhile, controlled the crowd and provided support to the medical mission.