Thousands of Manileños in Tondo, Manila have benefited once more from the sixth part of the series of Medical Mission, dubbed “TIKALUSUGAN” provided by Turkish International Cooperation and Coordination Agency (Tika) in partnership with the Manila City government.
“This is a very big help to me. It is so hard when you cannot afford to buy anything. That is why when I was informed about it, at 5:00 a.m., I came here to line up,” said 75-year-old Emelita de la Cruz, a widow and alone in her old age, when asked how thankful she was from the help she got out of the medical mission.
In an interview with this reporter, de la Cruz said that her husband died of cancer in 1997 and was left with two siblings. However, both of her children already passed away and since then, she said that her day-to-day survival were just made possible through the help and good hearts of neighbors and friends, who sometimes give her something to eat and offer their house where she can sleep for a day.
She said through the medical mission, she was able to avail herself of a checkup on her hypertension from the volunteer doctors and get vitamin supplements, aside from high-blood medications that she needs.
She was also thankful as she was also able to receive a reading glass that will help her to have clear vision.
“They gave me medicines and vitamins, and a referral for follow-up check-up at Tondo General Hospital,” said 67-year-old Melencio de Guzman, who is complaining about chest pains.
de Guzman said that for poor people like them, such medical mission means a lot. Aside from free check-ups, x-rays, free ECG test, free blood-sugar test, blood typing, dental checkup and tooth extraction, some indigent residents that have difficulty walking, read/see and breath were also given free canes, wheelchairs, eye glasses and nebulizer.
Felipa Bayot, a 95-year old resident, was having a difficulty in walking and has bruises in lower portion of her leg, was one of the wheelchair recipients.
When the wheelchair was handed to her, Bayot was teary-eyed and can’t utter any words because of the joy she felt as the wheelchair was directly given to her by Yesim Baktir,TIKA country director.
Her son in law, Eddie Villorta, said the wheelchair will be a big help for the old woman.
“Before, she still can walk. But now, because of old age, she was experiencing difficulty in walking. Now, with the wheelchair, she will be able to move,” Villorta said.
In her message, Yesim Baktir, TIKA country director, said the medical mission primarily aims to create stronger ties between the Turkish government and the Philippine government.
“It’s our pleasure (to help). We feel very priviledged to give to the public and everything here comes from the Turkish government, from Turkish people, just to keep the friendship ties (with the Philippines) stronger,” Baktir said in an interview with the Philippine News Agency.
She said TIKA has been doing projects in the Philippines for the Filipino people for the past years, adding that they find the people here warm in receiving the help they had provided.
“We see how the people are welcoming us warmly. You can see, they’re not acting. It comes from their hearts. So, that’s the thing we aim for, really — friendship between our countries,” she said.
As proof of the effort in building ties with the country, she said that they have done projects related to education, agriculture, livelihood assistance, and relief assistance in times of need.
Meanwhile, before the Marawi siege took place, TIKA also extended help in Marawi by providing medical equipment and machines in Amai Pakpak Hospital.
She said that part of their plan was to also participate in the rebuilding efforts in Marawi by implementing projects such as health centers and schools.
They plan to open a kitchen program for children in Marawi where they will include fruits for the children.
“We are aiming to feed 5,000 kids per day and not only with fish and potato or dried (food) materials, we will have fruits. So what we are trying to do is if you (referring to recipients) get good food it also feeds (their) brain. So it will be healthy children, healthy brains, and healthy society,” she added.
The medical mission was participated by different volunteer doctors from Dr. Jose Reyes Memorial Medical Center, Jose Fabella Hospital, and Manila Health Department through the efforts of Vice Mayor Honey Lacuña.
A total of six medical missions were made by TIKA in areas of the six districts of Manila. All of which extended the same kinds of medical assistance to Manila indigents.