Hundreds benefit from medical
outreach in 3 towns in Basilan

Scene during the Children of War Basilan Association's medical and dental outreach mission at the municipal hall in Tipo-Tipo town in Basilan Province Tuesday, August 23, 2016. Photo courtesy of Mirasol Monteza/RMN

More than 500 children and their parents from the municipalities of Ungkaya Pukan, Al- Barka and Tipo-Tipo have benefited from the medical and dental mission sponsored by the Save The Children of War Basilan Association.

The community outreach activity was made possible through the efforts of Dr. Arlyn Jawad-Jumao-as, the association's founding president, together with Dr. Alfonso Bravo, Lamitan District Hospital Administrator, Dr. Rhoda Delgado, and Dr. Christlen Delgado, dentist.

It was conducted at the municipal hall in Tipo-Tipo town on Tuesday, wherein both parents and their children received free medicines after the free consultation made by the four physicians.

"Nakakadurog ng puso habang tinitingnan ko ang mga bata na nangangailangan ng medical attention pero hindi sila nabibigyan ng pagkakataon because of the peace and order problem," Jumao-as said.

It was learned from a health worker (volunteer) who declined to be named that there are still many internally displaced persons at an evacuation center.

"Sad to say din po na hindi natapos ang medical mission at marami pa ang nakapila because of the encounter yesterday (Tuesday) in Tuburan," she said.

The volunteer added a military official who spearheaded the security forces securing the area ordered to immediately stop the said outreach activity for security reason.

Save The Children of War Basilan Association aims to reach out those family from far flung and remote areas of Basilan who are always affected by the conflict between the government troops and Abu Sayyaf militants.

The association's outreach activity Tuesday which was supported by JCI Lamitan, Tipo-tipo Municipal Health workers, 19th Special Forces company (4SFBn) led by Capt. Dexter Dantog, company commander also conducted free haircut, feeding activities and school supplies distribution.

This forthcoming October 4, the association will be having its founding anniversary with the theme: "Festival of Peace," to be celebrated in Basilan. MGPI News