LUNA, Apayao – 112 residents in Barangay Atok, Flora were the recent recipients of Project Butsy, a continuous medical outreach spearheaded by the Apayao Provincial Health Office (PHO).
On December 4, 2024, another outreach was conducted serving 63 individuals with free vision screening and 49 with medical consultation and health promotion service.
The activity was held in collaboration with the Rural Health Unit (RHU) of Flora and Flora District Hospital (FDH).
With the free services, the beneficiaries expressed their gratitude, mentioning the impact of accessible medical care on their lives.
Provincial Health Officer Dr. Mark Joleen Calban, in his statements, underscored the importance of Project Butsy in providing crucial health services to the community promoting awareness and treatment for visual impairments, which often go untreated in rural areas.
“Babaen ti ayat ti lideres tayo, Gov. Butsy and Cong Leah, this Project Butsy ket agtultuloy nga mangipaay ti serbisyo ti salun-at right to the doorstep of every yApayao prioritizing our Geographically Isolated and Disadvantaged Barangays. This is aligned with the roadmap of Universal Health Care and PuroKalusugan,” he added.
According to PHO, senior citizens benefited the most. The office emphasized the need for comprehensive healthcare especially among rural areas where medical access is limited.
Through the implementation of the Provincial Eye Care Program which centered on resolving the increasing rate of visual impairment and blindness, residents are ensured of quality health services.
Project Butsy continues to travel across Apayao, prioritizing those with the greatest need and focusing on fostering long-term improvements in the eye health system and throughout the province. By Joyce Arian Soria
