CITY OF SAN FERNANDO — “Dati, pangaku ke mu pu ining programang iti, ngeni, malapit neng mag-umpisa. Para-parehas tamu pung mika pag-asa pauli ning programang iti. (What used to be only a promise has evolved into an actual program we will start very soon, bringing hope to us all.”
Thus, Mayor Vilma Caluag welcomed Fernandino indigents enrolling to the free hemodialysis program of the city government.
The first day of enrollment on Aug. 18 held at Heroes Hall catered to patients coming from barangays Juliana, San Jose, and Sta. Teresita which all belong to Rural Health Unit 1.
The initial batch of patients were identified through a master list prepared by barangay health workers.
According to acting city health officer Dr. Rowena Salas, each patient underwent a three-part enrollment process – registration of their personal information, health assessment, and registration for the “KAYABE KArd” program.
“Pagkatapos ng enrollment, maghihintay na lamang ang ating mga pasyente sa araw ng pagsisimula ng mismong hemodialysis treatment. Sa ngayon, kasalukuyang itinatayo ang ating hemodialysis center at tinatrabaho natin ang mga kinakailangang permit para sa operasyon ng center,” she explained. The facility is being built inside the City Civic Center in Barangay San Isidro which also houses several government buildings delivering different services to the public.
City health and social services focal person Mary Ann Biliwang shared that on top of the free hemodialysis treatments, beneficiaries will also be part of the “KAYABE KArd” program under “individuals with chronic diseases” category.
“Ang mga pasyente natin sa hemodialysis program ay magiging bahagi din ng ‘KAYABE KArd’ kasama ang ating senior citizens, persons with disabilities, at solo parents. Makakatanggap sila ng benepisyo na tutugon sa ibang pangangailangan nila sa pinansyal at medikal na aspeto,” Biliwang shared.
One of the enrollees, a 61-year-old man from San Jose who has been undergoing treatments in private centers for six months now, was profuse with his gratitude to the city government: “Nahihirapan po ang aming pamilya sa gastusin dahil malaki-laki po ang ibinabayad namin. Sobrang laki ng tulong nitong libreng programa ni Mayor [Vilma Caluag] sa bawat pasyente sa maraming aspeto. Ipinagdarasal po namin ang lahat ng mangangasiwa sa programang ito na maging matagumpay ito.”
Meanwhile, the succeeding enrollment activities are targeted to be held every Thursday.
Patients from other barangays who were included in the RHUs’ master lists were advised to wait for the announcement of their respective schedules. Walk-in enrollees, on the other hand, will be accommodated, provided that their application will be coordinated to their RHUs prior to the enrollment day.
