LUNA, Apayao – 118 residents of Malibang, Pudtol became the recent recipients of the ongoing outreach of Project Butsy spearheaded by the Provincial Health Office (PHO).
The beneficiaries received free medical services on November 20, 2024, benefitting from free eye consultations and medical check-up in partnership with the Fred Hollows Foundation.
Provincial Health Officer Dr. Mark Joleen Calban has previously emphasized the importance of Project Butsy in improving public health outcomes in the province. He underscored that initiatives like Project Butsy are essential in promoting awareness and treatment for visual impairments, which often go untreated in rural areas.
“Goal po namin na mabigyan lahat ng residente ang tulong na kailangan nila lalo na ang mga nasa malalayong lugar na walang medical access. Kaya nandito kami kasama ang Project Butsy at ang Fred Hollows Foundation na maghatid ng serbisyong medikal para sa lahat,” Calban added.
Residents, on the other hand, expressed their gratitude for the services provided, highlighting the impact that accessible medical care can have on their lives.
“Nabayagen nga saan makakita ti maysa a matak gapu iti panakasulek na ket nabaybay-an daytoy nga aginggana itatta ket agsaksakit. Awan unay ti kwarta tapno mapan ko maipakita daytoy iti doktor ket tatta naaddaannak ti namnama tapno matulunganak iti kastoy a kasasaad ko. Agyamanak la unay gapu iti libre nga eye check-up,” said Magdalena Cabael, 68, who benefited from the eye consultation.
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 throughout the province. By Joyce Arian Soria
