Hypertension, arthritis noted in Magsico medical mission

CEBU, Philippines - CASES of hypertension and arthritis have been noted among adults as Taiheiyo Cement Philippines, Inc. (TCPI) sent back to the uplands of Magsico in San Fernando its medical mission recently.

The others among the 315 adults who trooped to the Magsico gymnasium had myalgia (body pains), gastric hyperacidity and common cough and colds, reported the lead organizer Mitzie Almira I. Carin.

Also, the mission with Solid Earth Development Corp. (SEDC) attended to 216 children who mostly had skin wounds, common cough and colds, and dental carries.

While some adults also had decayed teeth, 130 of them were found to have refraction errors for which they were given free spectacles, added Carin, manager of the joint Social Development Management Program (SDMP) of TCPI and SEDC.

This has been the third time that the SDMP brought the medical mission to Magsico, attending to 531 patients. It first served Magsico in June 2009 with 633 residents, then in September 2012 with 628 patients.

Barangay captain Johnny Arriesgado, his fellow councilors and barangay health workers helped in gathering the patients and assisted the medical team lead by TCPI company physician Dr. Ildebrando Estella.

His wife Dr. Easter Lette Estella joined the mission with physicians Celso Pacana, Jr., Debra Maria Catulong and Normacita Infantado, and dentists Phil Raymond Oacan and Pearl Angeli Cabauatan.

The TCPI-SEDC medical mission has to date attended to 20,928 patients since it started in June 2006.

The Province of Cebu commended the program for providing townsfolk needed health care, especially for those in the hinterlands whose residents hardly find access to services at public hospitals. (FREEMAN)