Magalong-led wellness program, a Christmas gift for Baguio folks

January 10, 2019 Community Billboard

What began as a simple way of keeping barangay folks in Baguio well aware of what good health and wellness are all about has become a catchword that has kept Christmas more meaningful for both the givers and the given.
Just after a few days from its launching last November 19 the Wellness Program organized and led by retired Philippine National Police Director Benjamin Magalong has elicited a snow-balling clamor for its replication in communities still unserved by the group of volunteer doctors, dentists, nurses, and grooming practitioners under the Medikalinga, a non-government organization of wellness and good health service dispensers.
A week before Christmas, Magalong’s volunteer caravan has already covered 92 barangays, serving over 15,000 individuals in the wellness project that dispenses service-free medical consultation and minor surgery, dental services including free dentures, eye examination and free eyeglasses, and free medicines for various ailments and sicknesses, as well as free grooming and massage.
“Pasko man o hindi, mahalaga na ang anumang maitutulong para sa ating mga kababayan, lalo na sa mga walang kakayahan at kapos sa pera, ay dapat lamang na kusang-loob na ating maiparating sa kanila. I consider it a Christian duty to help others, to serve others. Any one man’s suffering should be ours too. It’s simply our way of making our disadvantaged people smile and feel happy that others care for their well-being,” Magalong said.
Conducted in close coordination with barangay officials, the volunteers dispense free services in strategically chosen covered basketball courts nearest the various barangays in a particular cluster as District Centers.
This week alone, the Magalong-coordinated group has extended volunteer services in District 20 covering Holy Ghost Extension, Holy Ghost Proper, Imelda Village and Manuel Roxas barangays; District 12 for Atok Trail, Fort del Pilar, Kias, Loakan Apugan, Loakan Liwanag, and Loakan Proper; and District 13 for Camp 7, Camp 8, Military Cut-Off, Puliwes, and San Vicente barangays.
The health and wellness mission will resume on January 2019 starting with District 14 (January 7, 2019), Bakakeng Central, Bakakeng Norte/Sur, Dontogan, SLU-SVP, Santo Tomas Proper and Santo Tomas School Area; District 7 (January 8) – Guisad Central, Cresencia Village, Guisad Surong, Lower Magsaysay, Padre Burgos, Padre Zamora, Pinsao Pilot Project and Santo Niño Compound; District 10 (January 9 )- Harrison – Carantes, Lower General Luna, Malcolm Square, Salud Mitra, Session – Governor Pack, Upper General Luna; January 14 and 15 will be held at Irisan, while January 16 will be for the rest of the barangays comprising District 16- Middle Quezon Hill, Pinsao Proper, Quezon Hill Proper, Upper Quezon Hill and Victoria Village.
Residents who have been served in the wellness sites expressed their thankfulness that such a medical mission has been done in their barangays. “Christmas this year has become more meaningful for us, having received the much needed medical attention we have long wished for but couldn’t get due to costs. Mahal ang magpa-konsulta para sa amin na dumaranas ng karamdaman. Mahal din ang mga gamot. Salamat sa Wellness Project in Sir Benjie!” said Lola Prisca, a 65-year old ailing patient.
The finalized schedule for other unserved communities will be announced soon after the consultation process with the concerned local barangay authorities. Future wellness visits will be done even into the latter half of January 2019.
PR/ABN