ROXAS City – Indigent and marginalized residents of Sigma, Capiz can now avail free essential and basic medicines when needed.
This, after the Botika ng Bayan (BnB) of the Department of Health (DOH) was already opened in said town, Dec.18.
The Botika ng Bayan in Sigma is the first in Western Visayas and the 13th in the entire country, said National Drug Policy Compliance Officer Rayellen Magallon of the DOH-Center for Health Development 6, who represented regional director Marlyn Convocar during the launching program.
“The DOH is relaunching anew the BnB program in partnership with our local government units (LGUs) to realize President Duterte’s vision that no Filipino should go home without free access to basic medicines when needed and that quality essential medicines should be accessible and affordable for all Filipinos,” Magallon said.
She added that it is hoped that by 2022, all the LGUs through its Rural Health Units (RHUs) in the country will have a Botika ng Bayan licensed by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
On his part, Sigma mayor Christopher Andaya thanked the DOH for having this program in his town as he assured the agency that they will maximize the health services to the community.
“I hope that this program will also be done in other towns to help especially the elderly and the poor to have free maintenance medicines,” he said.
Andaya said the health workers in their area, led by their rural health physician Dr. Maria Teresa Tan, are hardworking and been doing regular medical activities in all their barangays to ensure that the residents have access to free medical services.
For the launching program, Capiz governor Antonio Del Rosario through the Provincial Health Office led by Dr. Samuel Delfin, turned over P41,000 worth of medicines for the Sigma BnB. (PIA/PN)
