Naga City – Residents of Naga City were the beneficiaries of a two-day medical mission conducted by Watsons in collaboration with SM Foundation. It was held at the PAGCOR Evacuation Center in Naga City last April 26 & 27. It followed the first medical mission of Watsons in partnership with SM Foundation held in Laoag City.
In these missions, free vitamins are given to beneficiaries and health concerns are detected in the early stages or before symptoms appear; and through early intervention, their progressions are prevented.
The collaboration between Watsons and SM Foundation to hold medical missions ensures that access to health care services are made available to as many Filipinos as possible free of charge. With the medical missions, both Watsons and SM Foundation have set their sights to educate the beneficiaries on the importance of healthy lifestyle and preventive health care.
The medical and diagnostic mission in Naga City was able to serve a total of 1,231 patients: 600 on the first day and 631 on the second day.
Volunteer medical practitioners and staff plus the SM Foundation Mobile clinic that houses the x-ray machine were able to dispense over 4,000 services to the beneficiaries.
Among the medical services were medical consultations, x-rays, ECGs, sugar test, cholesterol test, uric acid test, bone scanning, hair analysis, and skin analysis.
According to SM Foundation Program Officer Dalfhen Samson, audiometry examination was added among the diagnostic tests on the second day of the medical mission with 72 patients availing of the service.
The activity was made possible with support from SM Foundation’s partners namely Watsons, University of Nueva Caceres-College of Nursing, DMIRIE Foundation, Regroe/Dermplus, Bewell, Association of Bicol Business Students Ateneo de Naga University (ABBS ADNU), Naga City LGU, and the Metro Naga Development Council.