February 25, 2009

http://www.gmanews.tv/story/150383/Medical-mission-to-serve-distressed-Pinoys-in-Jeddah

Medical mission to serve distressed Pinoys in Jeddah
RONALDO CONCHA, GMANews.TV02/25/2009 07:58 PM
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JEDDAH, Saudi Arabia – Distressed and stranded Filipino workers and their dependents are expected to benefit from a medical mission to be held on Friday (Feb. 27) at the Philippine Consulate General in Jeddah.Organized by Forever Friends, a Filipino community group, in cooperation with Western Union, the mission will include the usual medical and dental services plus a free eye checkup and therapy.

The mission will be held from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. Melvin Madrid, Forever Friends vice president, said at least 200 Filipino health professionals, including general practitioners, dentists, ophthalmologists, physical therapists, nurses, medical technologists and other allied health workers have volunteered their services for the mission.

The volunteers will come from Saudi Medical, El Maghraby Hospital, Abuzinada Hospital, King Faizal Specialist Hospital, Abdulatif Jameel Rehabilitation center and Bupa Middle East.Madrid said that volunteers will perform laboratory tests and sugar blood test, citing past missions showing that most patients sought consultation for diseases such as asthma, hypertension and diabetes. The recipients will also be given free medicines such as cough and cold medicaments as well as vitamins.

“The stranded OFWs are the primary consideration of this project. We want to show them that we care and share our blessings in whatever little way we can," Madrid said. This will be the second medical mission to be organized by Forever Friends, with the aim of help the less fortunate Filipinos in the Western Region, especially those who are not covered by medical insurance.

The first one was on July 25, 2008 during the groups' 13th year anniversary.Friday’s medical mission will be the final activity of the officers of Forever Friends for the year 2008-2009 headed by their Jojie Ramos Mahakijkampol, president; Melvin Madrid, vice president;Toting Chua, treasurer; Don Mata, auditor; and Dean Caňete, secretary.

Gold card members of Western Union will receive surprise gifts from their representatives. Western Union members were advised to bring their gold card to avail themselves of the surprise gifts. - GMANews.TV