PIA Press Release
Tuesday, January 31, 2012City residents benefit from free medical, dental missionby Merlito G. Edale, Jr.SANTIAGO CITY, Isabela, January 31 (PIA) -- Poor residents with illnesses in this city are benefitting from the free medical mission that is being conducted by the city health office in coordination with the Philippine Medical Association (PMA) and Filipino-American doctors. Dr. Genaro Manalo, city health office chief, said the free medical and dental mission is an annual activity of the city, initiated by Mayor Amelita Navarro to help the poor residents. The medical assistance given to the beneficiaries include minor and major operations, cyst removal and surgery for hernia. Major operations are being conducted in a private hospital in the city which have facilities for such operations. Manalo said the city government shoulders part of the medicines prescribed by doctors to patients who have undergone operations. Susana Banaga, one of the beneficiaries of the free medical and dental mission who underwent ovarian operation, said she appreciates the city sponsoring the medical mission for poor residents like her. She said her family cannot afford to pay for her ovarian cyst operation that is why she took advantage of the free operation provided by the city government. (TCB/MGE/PIA- Isabela) | 
