Caloocan sends mobile clinics to remote areas

MANILA, Philippines - The Caloocan City government’s health centers on wheels continue to reach out to “depressed and hard-to-reach” areas in the city to better address basic health needs of poor residents.

Launched last month “to provide health care for the needy,” the two mobile clinics had their initial outreach services to Sitio Pag-asa and Sitio Matarik.

“Transportation and physical constraints on the part of the residents make it difficult for them to avail of the socialized health services from the city’s 42 public health centers, but not anymore because of these mobile clinics,” city health officer Dr. Raquel So-Sayo said.

She said during their initial outreach services, the health centers on wheels served around 200 patients — 12 asked for laboratory tests, 27 were dental patients, five availed themselves of cervical screening, six had anti-asthma treatment and the rest were children who were weighed.

Sayo said the mobile clinics are run by a physician, a dentist, a nurse, a medical technologist and a midwife, with support staff.

Sayo said residents may call the city health department office at 288-8811 local 2287 or 2289 for information regarding the schedules of the mobile health centers. – Pete Laude