ROSALES, Pangasinan – “Naniniwala po ako na ang isang lipunan na hindi po marunong magbigay ng tapat na galang, tapat na respeto, tapat na oras at pagaasikaso, utang na loob, sa senior citizen, sa nakatatanda ay isang bulok na lipunan.” Former Pangasinan fifth district Rep. Mark Cojuangco stated during his recent visit here to promte his medical outreath program to various sectors.
The former solon, who recently filed his certificate of candidacy with the Commission on Elections for governor of Pangasinan, was invited as guest speaker before 319 senior citizens in North Rosales Central School. Cojuangco afterwards presented his advocacy programs for senior citizens particularly a privately funded program, ‘Medikalinga sa Pangasinan.’
‘Medikalinga sa Pangasinan,’ is a program that offers free medical services to the financially challenged townsfolk. He named the current Calasiao Mayor Mark Roy Macanlalay as his partner in implementing the said project. According to him, they have sponsored the program with funds coming from their own pockets. Macanlalay is Cojuangco’s running mate for the position of vice governor of Pangasinan.
Senior citizens are one of the priority beneficiaries of Cojuangco’s medical projects. Aside from the ongoing medical programs, his vision is to build recreational and functional centers for the elderly. A two-storey building a land area of at least 2000 square meters will be erected for the association of senior citizens in the province. The second floor would be for the senior citizens’ activities. However, the first floor would be a place for Barangay Health Workers (BHW) so that they may assist the aged. The center will also have a garden for the elderly to keep them productive even in their twilight years.
One of the priority senior citizen illnesses being treated by the program is eye cataract. The elderly are treated until their sight is satisfactorily improved after cataract surgery. The said project has served thousands of patients since September 2014. Patients have been receiving free food, fare and medicine.
Also, doctors from St. Luke’s Hospital and Far Eastern University Manila perform the medical procedures on the elderly patients. Medical procedures like surgery are performed at Malacampa Hospital in Camiling, Tarlac, Candelaria, Zambales, Agoo, La Union and MBP Blessed Trinity General Hospital in Pangasinan.
Medical cases are categorized as 1) minor cases- operations such as surgery Cyst (Bukol) and Circumcision (Tuli) 2) Medium cases are Cyst (Under Intravenous Sedation), Hernia (Luslos), Hemorrhoids (Almuranas), Cleft Palate (Bingot), Fractional Curretage (Raspa), Ligation, and Vasectomy. 3) Major cases are Myoma (Bukol sa matris), Goiter (Bukol sa leeg), Cholelithiasis (Bato sa apdo), Colostomy Breast (Bukol sa suso) and Bukol sa panga.
Cojuangco was given a warm welcome from Rosales Mayor Susan Pagador-Casareno, Coun. Romulo Tagalicud, Coun. Manolo Quiambao, Abono Partylist President Lenny Flores and the Federation of Senior Citizens in Rosales President Rosalinda Ayson. In accordance with the celebration of senior citizen’s month, the said event was also held to introduce the newly elected officers of the senior citizens’ association.