True to its mission of providing public service to its host communities, SM Foundation Inc. (SMFI) sponsored a comprehensive medical and dental mission to more than a thousand residents of Puerto Princesa City on July 18 and 19.
Dubbed as “Gamot Para Sa Kapwa,” the medical-dental mission held at SM City Puerto Princesa 2nd Level provided free access to medical check-ups such as sugar, cholesterol and uric acid tests, ECG, as well as dental services and free medicines.
The “Gamot Para Sa Kapwa” is an annual activity held at different SM mall branches all over the country as part of its corporate social responsibility.
The main thrust of this program is to bring free medical services in provincial malls and make it available and ready for deserving beneficiaries.
For the first time in Puerto Princesa City, more than a thousand residents especially the elderly and children served as beneficiaries. This is aside from the mall security guards, housekeeping personnel, and tenant employees who also availed of the free medical and dental check-ups.
The prescribed full dosages of medicines were likewise given to the beneficiaries as part of their medication process.
“Gamot Para Sa Kapwa” is long-time project of SM Foundation as its way of thanksgiving to its host communities. It is one of the many outreach programs the mall set not only for Puerto Princesans but for the Filipinos as a whole.
Medical practitioner partners of SMFI, the Puerto Princesa City Health Office, the Camp General Artemio Ricarte Station Hospital, and the Philippine Navy’s Naval Forces West pitched in doctors and other medical personnel for the occasion.
Support was also received from the City Government of Puerto Princesa, Philippine Red Cross – Palawan Chapter, and JCI Puerto Princesa Peacock.
SMFI Executive Director Connie Angeles for health and wellness said the large number of people attending the medical missions indicate that people are concerned about their health and well-being but just can’t afford to avail of such costly medical and diagnostic services.
Dr. Bless Bertos, head of SMFI medical and dental missions, said she did not expect such huge number of people showing up and judging by their appearances, they came from all walks of life (the elderly who were wheeled into the venue; infants and toddlers, the poor and the rich) many of whom came from the nearby barangays.
Aside from the monthly medical and dental missions that SMFI conducts for the communities where the Group is located, it also builds new or renovates existing civilian health centers and wards in military and police camps all over the country. /PR
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