Written By Femina Laya Canua, Writer, Operation Blessing Philippines
Years ago, while doing medical missions under trees and inside schools in remote areas in the country, having a mobile clinic was just a dream for Operation Blessing (OB) Philippines. Today, it is not just a dream, but a dream come true instead.
“This is a dream come true for Operation Blessing…palagi nating sinasabi na sana may mobile clinic ang OB [We always say that we hope Operation Blessing has its own mobile clinic]…We thank JAC Liner for this partnership,” an all-smiled Dr. Kim April Pascual said during the launching of the mobile clinic at the JAC Liner terminal in Kamias, Quezon City, on May 2, 2016.
Dr. Kim April Pascual talks about the partnership of OB Phil and JAC Liner, Inc. and the planned events with the Mobile Clinic.
The JAC Liner – Operation Blessing Philippines Mobile Clinic
Operation Blessing staff poses with JAC Liner owner Chua Family (right side) and their staff.
The “Alagang JAC mobile clinic” was designed for medical, dental and optical uses, including laboratory facilities, which is also expected to bring medical assistance to the unreached and neglected in different parts of the country.
The Medical Area
The Dental Area
Volunteers gather around for a brief orientation before the start of the medical mission.
The mobile clinic would not be possible if not for the initiative of the Chua family. Their generosity and passion to help Filipinos led them to the idea of launching the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) of the JAC Liner Group, with Ms. Tin Palomo, RSW (Registered Social Worker) as CSR consultant.
The spearheads of the event and mobile clinic (From left: Priest, Ms. Tin Palomo, Dr. Kim Pascual, Mr. Jaime Chua, Mrs. Aida Chua, Mr. Gerald Chua).
After several talks and meetings, it came to them that, because of the nature of their business, they will convert a bus into a mobile clinic, where they can conduct medical missions to different parts of the country, especially to their terminals in Pangasinan, Laguna and Quezon.
Ms. Tin Palomo, a long-time friend of Operation Blessing Philippines, connected the JAC Liner Group to OB for a partnership. Operation Blessing, on the other hand, helped in designing the mobile clinic and also lend a hand in organizing the first-ever medical mission in its (JAC Liner) Kamias terminal.
FIRST MEDICAL MISSION WITH THE MOBILE CLINIC
Following the launching of the mobile clinic is a medical mission for JAC Liner employees and their families. The mission also includes counseling, massage therapy and health teaching.
Around 50 volunteers, including doctors, nurses and masseurs, helped in the medical mission, which served a total of 132 employees and their families.
During the mission, one bus passenger was caught in an accident while getting off the bus. Ronaldo Openda, 53, a provincial officer, was given first aid inside the mobile clinic when he sustained a finger avulsion injury – an injury in which a body structure was forcibly detached. He was later on brought to the nearest hospital.
Ronaldo Openda, a bus passenger who sustained a finger avulsion upon getting off one of the public buses in the terminal, receives first aid.
Indeed, this innovation is an answered prayer for Operation Blessing Philippines. There are still a lot of people and communities that remain neglected and unreached. This mobile clinic will give convenience to our volunteer “foot doctors and nurses” to extend their reach to people who need to be treated.
This mobile clinic will surely help more people in need of medical assistance. Partner with us today! Help us bring this mobile clinic to your community and give comfort to our kababayans. Thank you so much, JAC Liner!
See more photos here.
