Final thermal scan on patients before boarding the ambulance that would take them to a Pasig mental health facility — Contributed photos
ANGELES CITY – The city government has swept itsstreets of homeless and mentally-challenged individuals in rescue operation on May 12-13, transferring them to Metro Psych Facility in Pasig City for appropriate treatment.
Mayor Carmelo “Pogi” Lazatin, Jr. allotted P4 million — sourced from the Gender and Development Fund under the Integrated Mental Health Services for Persons with Mental and Psychological Challenges Program — for their medical treatment.
Chief Adviser to the Mayor Director IC Calaguas on May 14 personally coordinated with Metro Psych Facility for the immediate transfer of the 20 individuals rescued.
This, after the nearer Mariveles Mental Wellness and General Hospital said it could not accommodate the patients due to lack of bed capacity.
Before transferring them to the mental hospital, health workers from Rafael Lazatin Memorial Medical Centeralso known as Ospital Ning Angeles, conducted extensive medical check-up on the patients with all of them testing negative for coronavirus, while two were diagnosed as afflicted with tuberculosis.
It was only after their medical check-up that teams comprising members from Angeles City Tourism Auxiliary, City Social Welfare Development Office, Angeles City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, Angeles City Police Office,Angeles City Barangay Outreach, and Angeles City Economic Development and Investment Promotions Office, took the 20 patients to the Metro Psych Facility.
Lazatin vowed that after their recovery, the city will provide employment to support their basic needs.
