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Butuan senior citizens seek additional free meds


Philippine Information Agency
16 Oct 2019

BUTUAN CITY, Oct. 16 (PIA) -- Though provided with complete meals daily inside the Por Cristo, a center for the abandoned elderly, the senior citizens asked for free medicines for different types of medications including vitamin supplements.

Because of old age, they said they sought the love and care from people around them, especially those who were neglected by their family and has no one to turn to.

During the visit of the members of the Regional Inter-Agency Committee on Senior Citizens (RIAC-SC) Caraga at Por Cristo, the elderly men and women received personal hygiene kits and food packs. The department of health also conducted free blood sugar testing.

Lola Remedios Ambal, 69 years old from Gingoog City was one of the elderlies inside the Por Cristo who benefitted from the said activity.

She said she was delighted to have been visited by a group of individuals from various organizations and brought in-kind donations and food. However, she also wished that the government would provide them free medicines for hypertension, diabetes, and the like.

Ambal was emotional as she shared how she missed her family, who have not visited her for a long time. "We're very happy to see you here visiting us. There were times when nobody visits us, and it really makes us sad and alone," she said.

Free medicines were also the main request of lolo Alfredo Luna, as he also is suffering from arthritis. He said, Por Cristo could not sustain the provision of medicines due to budgetray constraints. Hence, he asked for long-term support of medicines by the government and other concerned organizations.

According to Susan Maestrado, home supervisor of Por Cristo, with the increasing number of senior citizens sheltered at the said center, they continue to give their best to provide the daily needs of the elderly.

She also hopes that the local government unit and other stakeholders would continue to reach out and give their donations.

"We are thankful to the city and provincial government for they are very supportive to Por Cristo. We hope that they would continue to extend assistance to sustain our services for the senior citizens here in the center," said Susan Maestrado, home supervisor, Por Cristo.

Meanwhile, Ana Semacio, focal person for senior citizens of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD)-Caraga emphasized that children should never abandon their parents. They must love and take good care of them instead.

"Children should love and take good care of their parents until they get older. This is our way to pay them back from their hard work and for the incomparable love and care they show to us when we were still young," said Semacio. (JPG/PIA-Caraga)

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