Internally displaced individuals affected by the ongoing unrest of Mayon Volcano benefited from the one-day medical and laboratory services of the Department of Health’s (DOH) PuroKalusugan program.

Evacuees from Barangay Anoling availed of free medical and laboratory services at Tagaytay Elementary School in Barangay Tagaytay, Camalig, Albay, on Tuesday.

In an interview on the sidelines of the event, Health Undersecretary Glenn Mathew Baggao said the PuroKalusugan activity is part of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s directives to check on the health and welfare of evacuees displaced by Mayon Volcano’s unrest.

“We brought the entire DOH team from the regional office. We brought various supplies like pregnancy kits, hygiene kits, and even items for children. We also brought the mobile facility van to ensure the safety of our evacuees,” he said.

Various doctors provided free checkups and vaccinations, while a mobile facility van offered free laboratory services.

Baggao said the event is the first PuroKalusugan activity conducted in an evacuation center.

“We are here to assure the public, particularly the evacuees, that the DOH will always be here to provide the necessary medical care,” he added.

Camalig Mayor Carlos Irwin Baldo Jr. said the DOH’s PuroKalusugan program helps monitor the health status of Camalig residents, particularly those staying in evacuation centers.

Baldo added that evacuees have no excuse not to avail themselves of the services since the government is bringing health services closer to them.

He said at least 200 internally displaced families, along with some residents of Barangays Tagaytay and Anoling, will benefit from the one-day activity.

Free checkups and diagnostic tests include medical consultations, dental services, complete blood counts (CBC), urinalysis, and electrocardiograms (ECG).

Health workers administered routine vaccines, conducted child nutrition checks, provided maternal and family planning counseling, and offered specialized screenings for non-communicable diseases, cancer, cervical health, tuberculosis (TB), and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).

Evacuees also attended educational sessions on water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) protocols to prevent illness, alongside talks on road safety.

Mia Napiri Alemania, Barangay Anoling captain, thanked the department for bringing the PuroKalusugan program to their area.

“This is a big deal because the checkups for us, the IDPs, are being done right here at the evacuation center. Our medical needs are also being addressed here,” she said. (PNA)