Buntis Congress in Caloocan

Caloocan City Mayor Enrico “Recom” Echiverri yesterday assured city residents that their health remains to be one of the top priorities of his administration. The assurance came as the City Health Department (CHD) reported a successful holding of the Ligtas Buntis campaigns under the Buntis Congress concept it initiated since two years ago.

“For the second year, we have gathered pregnant women from all over the city, irrespective of their condition, and educated them on pre-natal and post-natal care, nutrition, hygiene, vitamin supplenetation, baby care and breastfeeding,” said City Health chief Dr. Raquel So-Sayo.

The participants came from the city’s 188 barangays covered by some 43 health centers.

In addition to this, Echiverri said the CHD conducted countless free medical and dental missions in coordination with civic organizations.

The health department, in its yearend report, has also successfully conducted free operation for patients with cleft palate (harelip); free circumcision; and public forums to inform the public on various illnesses.

The 82-bed capacity President Diosdado Macapagal Memorial Medical Center, formerly Caloocan General Hospital, which is managed and operated by the city government, has rendered medical service and spent some P.7-million for charity and indigent cases. Most of the patients who had medical checkup in the hospital suffered from diabetes followed by those who sought treatment from the cardiology, pediatrics, pulmonary, physical therapy and OB-Gyne and EP, and Eye-Ear-Nose-Throat (EENT) departments.

Some 10,381 patients were treated at the emergency room; 10,381 patients treated at the out-patient department; 5,701 were treated at the specialty clinic; and 3, 387 were admitted at the ward.

Residents also enjoy free ECG every second and fourth Tuesday of the month when available; free diabetes screening every Wednesday and Friday; and free cholesterol screening every second and fourth Wednesday of the month.

So-Sayo, PDMMMC director, added that representations are being made with Echiverri for the division of their medical services into five departments, the Medical, Surgical, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Pediatrics and Anesthesiology departments, for a more efficient operation of the medical facility.