The Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM) joined the Department of Health (DOH) in providing free medical services to the community in Batasan Hills, Quezon City last August 9.

In celebration of this year’s National Hospital Week, RITM and 21 DOH-attached hospitals combined their efforts and offered medical consultations and services to 800 patients comprising of children, adults, and pregnant women. Aside from consultations, dental services, medicines, and laboratory examinations were also provided.

Carolyn, a 28-year-old resident from Batasan, shared how her four-year-old son, who has been having intermittent fever. Due to financial problems, however, she struggled to get her son to the hospital.

“Ang balak talaga sana namin kung makahiram ng pera asawa ko, ipapacheck up na namin siya. Kaso nung nalaman ko na may medical mission ngayon, dineretso ko na lang po siya dito. (Our original plan was to have my son checked, once my husband has borrowed enough money. However, when I knew about the medical mission, I decided to bring him here instead.)”

Carolyn was one of the many fortunate people whose health concerns were addressed through the medical mission.

Through her speech delivered by DOH Undersecretary Herminigildo Valle, DOH Secretary Paulyn Jean Rosell-Ubial promises everyone that hospitals are prepared “to make health services available to surrounding communities and meet the demands of the changing healthcare needs with appropriate tools for continuing quality improvement, with the end goal of becoming safe and resilient hospitals.”

by Allenor Enciso, Communication and Engagement Office [RITM Web Team]