By Raydes B. Barcia
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Daraga, Albay— The region’s first ever mobile laboratory and diagnostic clinic is roving on the street to provide free medical health services in the 54 villages of this town.
Mayor Carlwyn Baldo launched the first ever mobile lab and clinic in Bicol Region in an effort to provide free medical services to impoverished families in the far-flung villages of this town.
The mobile laboratory and diagnostic clinic will cater free health care services for every Daragueño specifically to the underprivileged families in 54 villages, Baldo said.
The mobile laboratory clinic is manned by medical technologists and three physicians withP10 million annual budget allocation to provide for free medical services to the people of this town.
The project is anchored on Baldo’s six-point agenda aimed to advance basic services, and allocate budget for free healthcare services.
Dubbed as the Arangkada Banwa Mobile Laboratory and Clinic (ABMLC) is Baldo’s orange card project, the first service innovation that will cater free laboratory works, medical consultation, diagnostic tests and vaccination to Daragueños.
Unlike short-term medical missions on wheels, the ABMLC will bring permanent healthcare services closer to the residents since the two vehicles—one of which will be housed at the Rural Health Unit (RHU), beside the Daraga covered court, while the other will be roving around the rural barangays in Daraga by schedule—will offer at least 190 free laboratory and diagnostic tests for hematology, bacteriology, serology, x-ray, ultrasound, urinalysis, and among others.
“My dream is to put up a hospital to provide free healthcare services to the public. Aside from free medicine, my focus is poverty alleviation, free education and addressing water supply scarcity,” Baldo said.
Baldo said the local government will allot a P10 million budget a year for free healthcare services through mobile and clinic lab. “We are bringing to the doorsteps the medical services to the public to cater free services to the poor,” Baldo said.
“The mobile lab and clinic are equipped with start of the art facilities with three physicians onboard with free medicine. We are launching this as we need to know the health situation in the Barangay,” he said.
Senior citizens can also avail of maintenance medicines for free. “This initiative is borne out of my interactions with the people during my campaign who often complain about their incapacity to access quality healthcare services given their personal circumstances. Daraga has 120,000 population.
“Haros uru-aldaw, ayo tabi nagarani dangan naga-agrangay na mga ka-emenwa ko dahil sa problemang madikal dangan sa kawaran ninda ning kakayanan na magpa-doktor. Kaya udi na tabi, pigarani namon saindo an serbisyo. Pigadungog ko ang pangangaipo nindo dangan piga-aksyonan ta tulos yan. This is a stepping stone habang piga—preparar ko man su pangmataggalang serbisyong pangkalusugan para sag abos na ubos sa Daragueno,” Baldo said.
(Almost everyday, people would approach me and share their sentiments regarding their medical concerns and their incapacity to seek treatment. So, we are bringing these medical services closer to you. I know your needs and I intend to provide urgent solutions. This is a stepping stone while l prepares my long-term plan to advance healthcare services for all Daragueños.) (Raydes B. Barcia)