KaFuerte 'Backpack Program' in Pasacao,Libmanan, Canaman

By Ma. Edelyn Bongalos

Comes from the idea of carrying the medicines and medical equipment which are primarily essential for medical services that the KaFuerte Healthcare-on-the-Go team aims to deliver houses to houses, the program was then called, the Backpack Program.

The Backpack program is a priority project of the provincial government which is composed of two teams mainly the Mobile Diagnostic Van and the Backpack Team. The latter aims to reach the far-flung communities that are not yet accessible to vehicles such as the medical van.

Recently, the program made its pilot launch in the municipality of Pasacao particularly in the upland barangay of Balogo. There, the KaFuerte Healthcare-on-the-Go attended to a lot of people in need of medical services.

“We encountered several cases here in which the patients should really know their health situation. So, we brought portable ultrasound device, CBG, and ECG. We also brought medicines preventing diseases, vitamins, and other healthcare provisions needed by the patients,” explained by Lars Catimbang, the team leader of the Backpack program.

With great love, passion, and dedication to serve the people, Lars Catimbang, together with Ivy Monge and Ian Borromeo who are in-charge of the program, visited every household of the barangays that they went to. Grateful and overwhelmed, Maridel Delos Angeles-Gubat, was one of the patients in Balogo, Pasacao that the team had helped. She said, “Dakulang pasalamat mi po na nagtuyo kamo sa barangay mi, nakapa-ultrasound po ako ngunyan ta si last kong check-up dae ko naman po naipadagos ta naglipat na ko digdi sa Balogo. At least ngunyan, naaraman kong okay and healthy si baby. Dakulang tabang din po ini sa mga kabarangay ko lalo na pong kakatapos lang kan nagsunod-sunod na bagyo. Si mga gustong magpacheck-up, dae maka pacheck-up ta mahalon check-up sa Centro. An pamasahe, mahal din. Kaya ini po, dakulang tabang po talaga ini lalo na po sa mga gurang.”

MEDICAL BACKPACK TEAM The Provincial Health Office under Camarines Sur Gov. Migz Villafuerte has deployed a new innovation of healthcare on the go in the form of the Medical Backpack Team that conducts mobile laboratory examinations like ultrasound, ECG, blood sugar testing, uric acid testing as well as distribution of free medicines to the constituents. jmts/rbmjr/mmec12022020 with photos from fb_GovMigzVillafuerte

On the next week since its pilot launching, the KaFuerte Healthcare-on-the-Go continuously conducted free medical mission and visited the municipality of Libmanan last November 23-26, 2020. The far-flung communities of Udoc, Bagamelon, Cambalidio, and Villa Socorro availed of the free medical diagnostic services such as ultrasound, ECG, BP, blood sugar, and check-ups. The residents were also given free medicines upon prescriptions.

Merly Gata, at the age of 65, expressed her gratitude towards the program. She said, “An mga aki ko na sa hararayong lugar na, kaya nagpapasalamat ako ng naabot ako ngunyan kan saindong team. Dae na ko mapabanwa para lang mag pa check-up. Kamo pati an pinakaenot na medical team na nag-igdi sa samo”. Merly resides in a distant upland place at Bagamelon, Libmanan wherein the only way to get there is through walking or riding on a motorcycle.

The KaFuerte Health care-On-The-Go also travelled to Maangas, Caramoan to extend the free service to the said community which is, as well in need of free access to healthcare.

“Saro sa mga aki ko na igwa nin Nephrotic syndrome, sa BMC Naga ko pa talaga ni na papa check-upan. Masakit po talaga an kwarta. Si sarong tudok po sa iya ta kaipo nin human albumin nasa dose mil po ta garo nawaraan po kaya an hawak niya nin tubig. Halos dapat po kuta kada katapusan ma pacheck-up po siya ta masakit talaga an may arog kayang helang,” shared by Luz Hermosa Demacuta, a resident of Agaas, Caramoan.

The program continues to roll out in the entire province with the vision of extending a helping hand to our fellow Camarinenses who are much in need of free medical services and medicines.