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Hundreds of OFWs benefit from Jeddah medical mission


JEDDAH, Saudi Arabia - More than 300 members of the Filipino community in Jeddah benefited from a medical mission conducted last Friday by the group Circulo Ilongo-Saudi Arabia (CISA) in coordination with the Philippine Consulate General. CISA president Juliet Roa said the medical mission, with the theme “Kaakbay sa Kalusugan," was intended for Filipinos who did not have any insurance and runaway workers staying at the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration halfway house. They were given free meningitis vaccination, tooth extraction, and eye examination. Others sought consultation for diseases such as hypertension, asthma, and diabetes. Most of the patients examined reportedly had very high blood sugar count. One worker was found to have both very high blood pressure and a high count of blood sugar. “I was really touched to see some of them who have that kind of problem but we [were surprised] because in spite of the result, the man is still okay, but we still [advised] him to take care," said one of the nurses who checked the overseas Filipino worker (OFW). The patients were also given free medicine for coughs and colds, as well as vitamins. Meanwhile, volunteers from the Kapit-bisig cooperative of Jeddah were very happy to provide free massage therapy and hand and foot reflexology. “It was a great feeling to serve our kababayan especially those who can not afford to get this therapy," said Sarah Atienza, Kapit-bisig’s chairwoman. Likewise, volunteers from the King Fahd Hospital were glad to have participated in the event. “I want to know how it [felt] helping my kababayan without any[thing] return and it [was] worth it," said Rocel Dalit, a first-time volunteer. “I was just invited by my friend but when we started the medical mission. I found it really wonderful, I am very happy that I became a part of this noble act," said surgical nurse Tarhata Abdulsalam.. Helping out in the medical mission were more than 150 volunteers from the medical, nursing, respiratory, diastetics, reflexology, pharmaceutical, and dental departments of King Fahd Armed Forces Hospital, Dr. Erfan and Bagedo Hospital, Saudi German Hospital, Dr. Soliman Fakeeh Hospital, Khalid Idriss Hospital, New Jeddah Clinic Hospital, and Al Saffah Polyclinic. Officers and members of the Scouts Royale Brotherhood Alumni also gave their time to assist OFWs during the one-day event. Consul Leo Tito Ausan Jr. expressed his happiness over the successful mission. “We can only hope that this will be done regularly," he said. - Ronaldo Concha, with Kimberly Jane Tan, GMANews.TV
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