LUNA, Apayao – More than 120 visually impaired yApayaos underwent free eye check-up today, August 6, at the Far North Luzon General Hospital and Training Center (FNLGHTC) in observance of the 2024 Sight Saving Month.
This vision screening and examination allowed people to have their eye conditions checked by various eye health professionals for free, which usually comes at a high cost in private hospitals, eye clinics, and other related eye care institutions.
According to Provincial Health Officer Dr. Mark Calban, this is part of the Eye Health Systems Strengthening Integration (EHSSI) Project which aims to “accommodate all yApayaos in all their eye health care needs.”
“Hindi na kailangan pang lumabas ng probinsiya para lamang magpa-check-up ng mata at iba’t iba pang mga karamdaman. The goal is to be able to provide all the healthcare needs of the yApayaos in our own health care facilities, whether it is general health care or just the eyes, “Calban added.
Jerry-lyne Bab-ayan, 30, from Kumao, Kabugao is among the more than 120 hopefuls. She has been suffering from left eye blindness for 26 years now after being accidentally poked in the eye by her sibling when she was four years old.
While babysitting her one-year-old son, she endured the long queue at the FNLGHT just to get the long-awaited medical advice for her unique condition.
“Akkan talaga makakita daytoy maysa nga matak manipud idi masulek nak ni ading ko idi ubbing kami,” when asked about her condition.
“First time ko nga umay ipakita ditoy hospital ta nadamag mi nga adda iti libre nga check-up iti mata. Kayat ko kuma met nga maamwan nu adda pay pagnamnamaak nga mapapintas pay iti panagkitak,” added Bab-ayan.
For some, long queues and waiting in line for a couple of hours are already a daunting task, especially in a hospital setting. But for Jerry-lyne and her one-year-old son, this is an opportunity for her to understand her condition and do something to make it better.
“Ikarkararag ko nga matulungan na tayo kuma dagitoy nalalaing nga doctors ken maikkan dakami iti pamagbaga tapno ammo mi metlang iti aramiden mi ken dagitoy nga saksakit,” she concluded. By Jess Christley Marquez
