By Raymart Escopel
ILOILO City – Kaibigan ng Kabataang may Kanser (KKK), an organization that helps cancer-stricken children, once dreamt of having a facility that will help augment the financial needs of their beneficiaries.
Now, that dream has become a reality through the efforts of various stakeholders who joined hands in making that miracle happen for KKK.
On August 21, the realization of KKK’s dream happened as a half-way home was officially turned over to them. The facility will be of great help to the KKK children especially those who are from places outside Iloilo as it will serve as their home away from home every time they will have their treatment.
“It is very helpful because it will significantly lessen the expenses they incur with treatment,” said KKK president Dr. Maria Socorro Martinez.
She added that the half-way home is a sort of miracle for them as it has been their dream to provide a place where cancer-stricken children and their families can stay when they have their treatment in Iloilo City.
The turned-over half-way home will primarily benefit the KKK children coming from far places like Concepcion, Dingle, Dumangas, Barotac Viejo, Guimaras, and Capiz.
Present during the turn-over ceremony were Congressman Jerry Treñas and Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog. PhilHealth board member Alexander Ayco and Department of Health (DOH) assistant secretary Paulyn Jean Rosell-Ubial also graced the event.
The initiative of building the half-way home started in February 2013 when the “PhilHealth Run 2013: Run for Mother and Child Protection” held and gathered around 4,000 participants. The funds collected from the activity were used to make KKK’s dream a reality.
Aside from that noble effort, PhilHealth has also turned over a check to KKK amounting to P577,878 to augment the financial needs of the children for their medication.
Ayco said their efforts provs that one can truly change the world even in simple ways.
“DOH and PhilHealth exemplified true public service as this shows that we are extending an extra mile for the country to make it a better place to live in,” he said.
Now, the half-way home is completed and ready to cater to the cancer-stricken children and their families while they are battling against cancer.
The facility is composed of a receiving area, multi-purpose area, one toilet and bath, isolation room. Located within the Western Visayas Medical Center (WVMC) compound, which was donated by Ilonggo businessman Alfonso Tan, the families of KKK children will no longer worry about their accommodation every time they come to the city to have their treatment as it is being offered for free.
Meanwhile, on his part, Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog commended the people and the agencies that made the establishment of half-way home a success as it serves as a welcome development for Iloilo City and will position the city as the health and wellness center of the region./PN
