Metro Pacific Investments Foundation Inc. (MPIF), the corporate social responsibility arm of infrastructure conglomerate Metro Pacific Investments Corporation (MPIC), mobilized Health It Up! (HIU), a two-day medical mission for coastal community residents of nine municipalities in Siargao last November 18-19, 2022.
Health it Up is a partnership of MPIF and Makati Medical Center Foundation (MMCF) to address the health concerns of fisherfolks and coastal communities in Shore it Up’s partner sites that help protect and restore the ocean.
MPIF flew in 40 doctors, nurses, and medical practitioners to provide quality healthcare services such as surgery, optical, dental, pediatrics, general medicine, OB-GYN, E.N.T., and orthopedics to almost 2,000 Siargaonons from the municipalities of General Luna, Del Carmen, Burgos, Dapa, San Benito, Pilar, San Isidro, Socorro, and Santa Monica.
“We realized that a healthy environment involves healthy stewards ably taking care of our ocean’s natural resources,” says MPIF President Melody M. del Rosario. “MPIF’s commitment to our partner sites nationwide goes beyond environmental and socioeconomic impact and now promises to bolster the health and wellbeing of its people as part of a healthy ecosystem in the years to come.”
Health It Up! Siargao
MMCF and its volunteer doctors devoted two full days of delivering healthcare services to the island of Siargao, first in Burgos to cater to its community and nearby municipalities such as Sta. Monica, San Isidro, San Benito, Pilar, and Del Carmen; and in General Luna for residents of General Luna and Dapa.
Their efforts resulted in over 2,150 patients served: 400 for optical, almost 200 for dental, over 260 for pediatrics, 800 for adult general medicine services, almost 250 for OB-GYN, 93 minor surgical operations, and 42 trainees of the Hospital-in-a-Bike BLS Training.
“This public-private partnership between MPIF, MakatiMed Foundation, the LGUs and the Armed Forces of the Philippines is built upon our mutual purpose – to help those who need it most, when they need it most,” says MakatiMed Foundation President Dr. Victor L. Gisbert. “We hope that this program strengthens both their physical and mental wellness and help them move onwards with the new normal.”
Strengthening Accessibility and Disaster Resiliency
Parallel to the Health It Up! medical mission, MPIF likewise gave a gift of health and wellness with its mWell-on-the-Go bag per municipality to aid in augmenting their telehealth connectivity, healthcare accessibility, and disaster preparedness. MMCF, along with other sister companies under Tulong Kapatid, PLDT-Smart Foundation and Maynilad, also supplemented these efforts by donating Hospital-in-a-Bike units per municipality.
Each mWell-on-the-Go kit contains a tablet, a Smart Pocket Wi-Fi, a power station, a solar panel charger, and an mWellness kit with an oximeter, BP monitor, and digital thermometer. In addition, MPIF also provided portable water filters which will enable the beneficiaries to produce clean, drinking water through filtering the likes of rainwater, muddy water, and others, sans saltwater.
MMCF’s Hospital-in-a-Bike contains a basic Trauma Kit that includes medical supplies and equipment such as nasal tracheostomy tube, surgical tools, and portable oxygen, as well as specialized communications equipment – housed in a bag attached to a mountain bicycle.
“The provision of efficient and accessible healthcare imparted to us by the MVP Group, truly makes a life-changing impact to the public health services that we can provide to our people,” says Province of Surigao del Norte 1st District Representative Cong. Bingo Matugas. “We are very thankful to their entire group for always being there for Siargao and we hope to give back to them by continuing the good work we do.”
The efforts of the MVP Group through Tulong Kapatid launches the second year of Tuloy Pa Rin Ang Pasko, its nationwide Christmas initiative aimed to keep the Christmas spirit alive, no matter the situation.
Health It Up! Siargao and the commitment to strengthen the quality and accessibility of the province’s healthcare, is aligned with MPIC’s efforts to contribute to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), particularly SDG 3 Good Health and Well-being and 17 Partnerships for the Goals.