Over 70 teachers of San Juan National High School in Libmanan, Camarines Sur availed of the free medical services brought by the Ka Fuerte Hospital-on-Wheels and Laboratory Diagnostic Van for their annual health profiling, a requirement of the Department of Education for the teachers.
According to the registered nurse and licensed professional teacher Elaine C. Ibarra, “We coordinated with the Provincial Health Office (PHO) for free medical mission for our teachers. We initially requested the Laboratory Diagnostic Van but they also offered to bring the Hospital-on-Wheels here in our school offering free medical consultations and medicines to also accommodate other stakeholders of DepEd.”
Every year, teachers under DepEd are required to submit an annual health profiling wherein they have to undergo a physical examination including chest x-ray and urinalysis. To lessen their expenses for the physical examination, Ibarra initiated the coordination with the PHO after seeing on social media that the Provincial Government is conducting free medical mission and laboratory tests.
“We saw on social media that PHO provides free medical and laboratory tests. We tried to coordinate and they immediately responded to our request. Within a week, they were able to schedule us the Hospital-on-Wheels and Laboratory Diagnostic Van,” she also added.
Ibarra further elaborated the benefit of the free medical mission to their teachers. “Because of the Laboratory Diagnostic Van, we have availed of the complete blood count, lipid profile, and fasting blood sugar which is very relevant for us teachers. This is really a big help because we get to save money. After all, there is nowhere you can find that could offer these medical services for free. Through this, we were able to save money costing at least P1,500 to P2,000 per teacher.”
The San Juan National High School is composed of 92 teaching and non-teaching personnel. The Hospital-on-Wheels and Laboratory Diagnostic Van were able to cater the medical needs of all the personnel. Not only that the school was able to save money but also get to personally monitor their health and get free consultations from the doctors who could interpret their laboratory results.
In spite of the short notice of their request, the Provincial Government’s immediate response of bringing free medical services to San Juan National High School through the medical mission made them reach their target date for the physical examination. Grateful for granting their request, Ibarra and all the personnel extended their gratitude towards the Provincial Government, “Thank you to the Provincial Government headed by Governor Luigi Villafuerte for accommodating us and sending the Hospital-on-Wheels and Laboratory Diagnostic Van to our school.”
As indicated in the Magna Carta for public school teachers in Article 4 Section 22, there should be a free annual medical examination for all teachers, and free medical treatment and/or hospitalization if necessary provided free by the government entity paying the salary of the teachers. Through the efforts and initiatives of the Provincial Government, these privileges for teachers were given and implemented.
“Buot mi pong mag pasalamat sa Ka Fuerte lalong-lalo na ki Cong. Lray Villafuerte and Gov. Luigi Villafuerte sa magayunon pong programa na ini kan kapitolyo na itinatao po sa mga konstituentes. Yaon po an pagtabang ninda lalo na sa samuyang mga teachers ta ini po haloy nang hinihidaw kan mga teachers,” shared Jesus B. Cea, Master Teacher 1 of San Juan National High School and one of the teachers who availed of the free medical services.
“Sana po magin annual na po an arog kaini ta tigre-require po talaga kami kan Division Office na gabos na teachers kaipuhan na magsubmit nin lipid profile or annual medical laboratory examination na yan po piggagastusan mi. Ini po first time in history na ginibo sa mga teachers. Sana po padagos-dagos na ini asin itong hospitalization sana po mapatupad na kan satuyang mga mambabatas,” added Cea.
The Ka Fuerte Hospital-on-Wheels and Laboratory Diagnostic Van are just among the mobile healthcare services visiting different municipalities of the province to bring free medical services closer to the constituents who needed them. Instead of traveling to hospitals and spending on medical services and treatments, the Provincial Government through the Provincial Health Office ensures to continue its mission to provide free expanded healthcare services to all.
