"BAYANIHAN ON WHEELS"
Hontiveros leads launch of "Healthy Pinas Mobile Clinic" for Pinoys in poor, far flung areas

Senator Risa Hontiveros led the launch of a state-of-the-art 'mobile clinic' to give free medical services to Filipinos in poor and far-flung locations in the Philippines.

The senator opened the new "Healthy Pinas Mobile Clinic" in Barangay Turu at Magalang town, Pampanga last Monday. The mobile clinic can serve a maximum of 300 indigent patients a day. All patients, including the healthcare workers at the clinic, underwent rapid antigen tests. Health protocols were strictly enforced.

"Pagsubok ngayon, lalo na sa mahihirap nating mga kababayan ang magpunta sa ospital dahil sa dalawang bagay: una, ang banta ng COVID-19 sa kalusugan, at ikalawa, ang mga bayarin na banta naman sa kanilang bulsa. Makakatulong ang Healthy Pinas Van upang hindi na iyan alalahanin ng ilan sa ating mga kababayan," Hontiveros said.

"Hindi lamang COVID-19 ang kalaban natin sa kalusugan. Nariyan ang cancer, heart disease, diabetes, hypertension, ang mga nagda-dialysis, at iba pa. Kailangan rin silang bigyan ng agarang pansin. Ang mga serbisyo sa Healthy Pinas van ay makakatulong sa pagmo-monitor ng mga common diseases. Ang check up na dati ay hirap silang makuha sa ospital, libre nilang makukuha dito," Hontiveros said.

Hontiveros described that the mobile clinic is able to provide high-quality diagnostic services, such as chest x-ray, Complete Blood Count (CBC) test, ultrasound, Electrocardiogram (ECG) test, and lipid profile test. The clinic will also offer diagnostic and medical consultation services to be conducted by doctors.

Hontiveros emphasized the project hopes to exemplify "bayanihan on wheels." The senator says her office hopes to partner or collaborate with different stakeholders and groups as the van makes the rounds in different localities.

"Sa ngayon po, magsisimula na pong umikot sa ilang mga lugar sa Luzon ang Healthy Pinas van. Abangan po ninyo ang pagbisita sa inyong lugar at makipag-ugnayan sa inyong local government officials para sa pre-registration," Hontiveros said.

"We aim to tap various sectors in this initiative: the churches, labor groups, the business sector, charitable foundations, and civil society groups. Ngayong panahon ng matinding krisis, magtulungan po tayo. Mapa-community pantry o mobile clinic man, kumilos tayo para mahatiran ng tulong ang ating mga mahihirap na kababayan," she said.

"It takes all of us to survive this pandemic. Ipagpatuloy natin ang diwa ng bayanihan. Sama-sama, lahat tayo, kapit-kamay sa pagbangon," she concluded.