First Lady Liza brings free healthcare services to Caraganons through LAB for All caravan
By Nora L. Molde
BUTUAN CITY (PIA) — Caraganons benefited from free medical consultations, laboratory services, medicines, and assistive devices as First Lady Louise ‘Liza’ Araneta-Marcos led the LAB for All (Laboratoryo, Konsulta at Gamot Para sa Lahat) caravan at the Libertad Sports Complex in Butuan City on July 7, bringing essential healthcare and other government services closer to communities.
The nationwide initiative, supported by the Department of Health-Center for Health Development (DOH-CHD) Caraga, the Butuan City Health Department, PhilHealth, and other government agencies, helped reduce the financial burden on families by providing accessible and free healthcare services, while advancing the government’s Universal Health Care agenda as mandated by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.
The caravan offered free medical consultations, laboratory services, mental health counseling, HIV counseling, and medicines, and deployed doctors and medical technologists to ensure efficient, quality healthcare delivery.
DOH-CHD Caraga also distributed 32 medical assistive devices to persons with disabilities, senior citizens, and individuals with mobility limitations. These included six adult wheelchairs, two pediatric wheelchairs, two walkers, three crutches, 10 single canes, and nine quad canes, enabling beneficiaries to regain mobility and improve their quality of life.
Doctor Sadila K. Raki-in, regional director of DOH-CHD Caraga, shared that the initiative reflects the government’s commitment to making quality healthcare accessible to every Filipino, particularly those from vulnerable and underserved communities.
“Through LAB for All, we are bringing healthcare closer to the people. This initiative supports the realization of Universal Health Care by ensuring that every Caraganon can access free essential health services. Our goal is to make quality healthcare equitable, accessible, and responsive to the needs of every community,” Raki-in said.
One of the beneficiaries expressed gratitude for the free services, saying the initiative provided much-needed relief to families struggling to afford healthcare. This is a big help to those in need because the medical consultations, laboratory services, and medicines are free. We no longer have to spend on our medical check-ups.
The LAB for All caravan also demonstrated the whole-of-government approach by bringing together national government agencies and private-sector partners to provide integrated public services in one venue.
PhilHealth Caraga, headed by Regional Vice President Michael Jibson C. Hernandez, reaffirmed its support for the LAB for All program, underscoring its commitment to expanding access to quality healthcare and reducing the financial burden on Filipino families.
By bringing health, social, livelihood, education, and financial services together in a single, accessible venue, the LAB for All caravan enabled Caraganons to receive comprehensive government assistance. (NCLM, PIA Agusan del Norte)
