(Photo courtesy of Office of MP Diamila Disimban-Ramos)
COTABATO CITY – Some 800 residents of two Lanao del Sur villages benefitted from a medical outreach program organized by a lawmaker in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) in partnership with the region's Ministry of Health (MOH).
In a news release on Friday, the Office of MP (Member of Parliament) Diamila Disimban-Ramos said the program was held in Barangay Raya in the town of Wato Balindong on May 23 and in Barangay Maul Ilian in the town of Marantao on May 24.
During the activity, residents of the villages availed of free medical consultations and received medicines and vitamins.
Meanwhile, 1,000 residents benefitted from the eye screening services with free reading eyeglasses and selected beneficiaries also received wheelchairs and hearing aids.
Cadalay Usodan of Barangay Raya thanked the government for the free medical services that they have received.
"Sobrang saya po naming mga residente ng Barangay Raya dahil malaki ang tulong po nitong libreng serbisyong medikal saamin lalo na't hindi naman po lahat ay may kayang magpacheck-up. Maraming maraming salamat po kay MP Ramos at sa MOH sa biyayang ito na ipinagkaloob nila kagaya nitong reading eyeglass dahil malaking tulong ito sa amin lalo na kapag nagbabasa kami ng Qur'an (We, at Barangay Raya, are very happy because we have availed of these free medical services since not all of us are financially capable of getting examined. We are very thankful to MP Ramos and to MOH for this blessing like this reading eyeglass that they have provided that will greatly help us especially when we are reading the Holy Qur'an)," Usodan said.
Barangay Maul Ilian chairperson Mohammad Jamal Tanggote also thanked the organizers of the program.
"Ito po ang pinaka-unang beses na nagkaroon ng medical mission sa barangay namin kaya lubos po ang pasasalamat namin kay MP Ramos, sa Ministry of Health at sa lahat ng tumulong sa inisyatibong ito. Batid ko po ang kalagayan at pangangailangan ng mga residente dito kaya malaking tulong po ito sa kanila. Maraming salamat po at nawa'y marami pa po ang matulungan nyo (This is the first time that there has been a medical mission in our barangay so we are very grateful to MP Ramos, the Ministry of Health and everyone who helped with this initiative. I know the condition and needs of the residents here so this is a big help to them. Thank you very much and I hope you can extend more services like this)," he added.
Meanwhile, Ramos thanked the MOH headed by OIC Minister, Dr. Zul Qarneyn Abas for the successful and smooth medical outreach program.
"Alhamdulillah! Our two-day outreach program was a success! I am very thankful for the great collaboration of our stakeholders. I hope and aspire to continue this effort together so that we can achieve our pursuit of a more improved health system for the Bangsamoro people. Ipagpapatuloy po natin ang pagbibigay serbisyo dahil yan po ang serbisyong Bangsamoro (We will continue our efforts in the service of the Bangsamoro)," Ramos added. (PR)
