A medical mission at SM Mall Fairview gave thousands of SM employees and their family members the opportunity to avail of free medical consultation, laboratory tests, prescription medicines and vitamins, even as they opened the comprehensive healthcare services also to residents in the surrounding communities.
During the activity, SM Foundation and its partners signed a Memorandum of Agreement that guarantees a regular quarterly healthcare program for the benefit of tens of thousands of SM Group’s employees and their dependents.
Statistics showed that 1,117 employees including their relatives availed of the different medical health service providers while 293 came from surrounding communities. Foundation staff & volunteers made the process systematized and orderly.
Aside from SM Mall Fairview, partners in the endeavor included: the International College of Surgeons (first time to get involved with SMFI’s healthcare activities) led by Dr. Gil M. Vicente; International Academy of Medical Specialists, Inc. with Dr. Federico A. Malubay, chairman, Medical Outreach Program & Dr. Frederick D. Francisco, who signed for Dr. Wilfredo S. Tagle, co-chairman, Medical Outreach Program; SM Fairview employees (as volunteers), the local government units; the Red Cross Quezon City chapter; Philippine Normal University; Multicare; Gx and Wilore.
Dr. Bless Bertos, head of SMFI medical and dental missions, said she did not expect such huge number of people showing up and judging by their appearances, they came from all walks of life (the elderly who were wheeled into the venue; infants and toddlers, the poor and the rich) many of whom came from the nearby villages.
Aside from the monthly medical and missions that SM Foundation conducts for the communities in places where SM malls are located, it also builds new or renovates existing community health centers and wards in military and police camps all over the country as part of its advocacy for a healthier Philippines. This is in consonance with one of the UN 2030 SDGs—that of ensuring healthy lives and promoting the well-being for all—essential to sustainable development.
