The Philippine Information Agency – National Capital Region (PIA-NCR) and Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) jointly hold a health caravan for TUPAD beneficiaries in Caloocan City. (Photo by: PIA-NCR)
QUEZON CITY, (PIA) – The Philippine Information Agency – National Capital Region (PIA-NCR), through the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO), held a free health caravan for the beneficiaries of the Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers or most commonly known as the TUPAD Program in Caloocan City.
Central to this health caravan is the conduct of a free flu vaccination drive for 150 TUPAD beneficiaries composed of persons with disabilities (PWDs), senior citizens, families of dialysis patients, and other vulnerable groups.
65-year-old Zenaida Villanueva was among the TUPAD beneficiaries to participate in the health caravan in hopes to reduce her health risks and maximize quality of life.
“Tuwang tuwa nga kami na mga TUPAD ang unang priority dito sa programa na ‘to. Kasi ang mahal kaya ng flu vaccine kaya ginrab na namin itong opportunity na ‘to,” said Villanueva.
(We are very happy that we, TUPAD beneficiaries, are the priority of this health caravan knowing that availing of flu vaccine can be costly, that’s why we already grabbed this opportunity.)
Villanueva is a mother of a dialysis patient in Dr. Jose N. Rodriguez Memorial Hospital and Sanitarium (DJNRMHS) who was given the opportunity to become one of the beneficiaries of the TUPAD program through its localized implementation in the hospital.
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It can be recalled that the Multi-Sector Governance Council (MSGC) of the DJNRMHS headed by PIA-NCR Regional Director Emver P. Cortez is primarily giving priority to the economic empowerment of vulnerable sectors through the TUPAD program.
Aside from extending employment opportunities, this initiative is also aimed at transforming TUPAD’s program of work by integrating local food security and environmental sustainability.
Meanwhile, the health caravan likewise catered to the PWD community in the Livelihood, Education, and Rehabilitation Center (LERC) in Caloocan.
The PCSO expressed gratitude to the partnership with PIA which has been pivotal in reaching grassroots communities, especially in terms of the delivery of healthcare services.
“With the help of the Philippine Information Agency, napadali ‘yung pag-disseminate namin ng mga lugar kung saan kami pwedeng pumunta para magbigay ng flu vaccine,” said Dr. Juliet Diaz of PCSO Medical Services Department.
(With the help of the Philippine Information Agency, it became easier for us to reach the communities where we can extend the provision of free flu vaccines.)
PIA-NCR, for its part, also expressed its commitment to further aid in similar efforts to ensure that no Filipino will be left uninformed about healthcare programs for improved public health outcomes.
“PIA is always ready to help, not just as a government agency, but as a partner in creating healthier and more informed communities,” said Cortez, emphasizing the continuing thrust of the development communication arm in disseminating crucial health updates and supporting local health programs.
The health caravan forms part of the social welfare and development programs of PCSO, particularly the “Libreng Bakuna Kontra Flu: Proteksyon para sa Lahat.”
This collective activity serves as a testament to the importance of integrated government efforts towards building a healthier nation. (JMP/PIA-NCR)
