Kinatarcan Residents Grateful for Medical Mission

Some 590 residents of Kinatarcan island lined up for the free medical-surgical-dental mission of the Provincial Health Office last April 6-7.

Health and Social Services is the second item in the 6-Star Agenda of Gov. Hilario P. Davide III.

The mission was held at the Bitoon Elementary School. A total of 380 residents lined up for consultation, 153 youngsters aged 6-14 availed of free circumcision and 57 went for dental concerns, 49 of which went for tooth extraction while eight were for treatment.

They came from the three barangays on the island, namely Bitoon, Hagdan and Langub. The island is part of the town of Sta. Fe.

Lolita Batiancila, 64, of Brgy. Bitoon said, “Daghan akong gibating sakit. Labad akong ulo ug napasahan pa kog gutom. Maayo nga naay free clinic kay ang mga way kwarta makapatambal. Salamat kaayo. (I have many ailments. My head aches and I was not able to eat on time. It’s good that there is a free clinic because the marginalized can have their ailments treated. Thank you very much.)”

Annie Batiancila, 27, also of Bitoon, married to a fisherman and has four children summed up her gratitude in one word: “Salamat. (Thank you.)”

Rene Marabe, 35, married with four kids brought along Reniel, 9, his fourth child, for circumcision. He said, “Nahinangup ug nagpasalamat ko nga naay libreng tuli, di na gastuhan, di na kinahanglang motabok. Naa pay libreng tambal. (I’m glad and thankful that free circumcision is conducted, with free medicines and we no longer have to travel to the mainland.)”

Alma Optana, 44, who brought her two sons aged eight and six for circumcision, was thankful of the program. Laurel Pariol brought his son Clint, 9, and said “Maayo kay di na mahadlok ang mga puya, dali pa gyud. (It’s good because, unlike the traditional circumcision, this one is fast and so the children need not feel afraid.)”

Roger Desierto, 52, fisherman from Bitoon, took advantage of vacation time to have his six year-old son circumcised, adding that the latter might not be able to endure the pain in the traditional circumcision.

Tessie Paradio, brought sons Ricky, 12, and Reggie, 8, and was thankful that doctors spent time to come to the island unlike the time of her older children who were circumcised the traditional way.

The team from the Capitol was composed of Dr. Manuel Purog, Dr. Henry Calledo, Raymund Jade Laug-laug, Cyril Kay Pangatungan, Russel Padriga, Cynthia Pangatungan, Naomi Espinosa, Gay Genelsa and Julius Monsanto.

The augmentation team was composed of Dr. Lee Fua of the Daanbantayan District Hospital and his staff, Dr. Prudencio Manubag of the Danao City District Hospital, and Dr. Anne Claudine Zamora of the Bantayan District Hospital and her staff.

The dental team was composed of Dr. Sandra Cabello, Dr. Niña Basa, Dr. Jane Pesiao and Dr. Dori Ilustre.

Health workers of the three barangays of the island also lent their hands in the preparation of the venue, crowd-control and other matters.

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