‘Open Heart’ holds medical mission in Murcia

September 18, 2022

Mayor Gerry Rojas (4th from L) thanks Open Heart Foundation Executive Director Rosalinda Perez, Board Member Marlyn Fernando (5th & 6th from L) and OHF staff for choosing Murcia as the beneficiary of one of the foundation’s programs. With them are (L-R) Murcia Health Officer Dr. Raymund Antonio Maguad, Executive Assistant Jun Santiago and Blumentritt Punong Barangay Ronald Olvido.*

Three hundred Murciahanons benefitted from the medical-dental mission spearheaded by Manila-based non-government organization Open Heart Foundation Worldwide, Inc. (OHF) at Brgy. Blumentritt, Murcia last September 8.

Conducted in partnership with the provincial government headed by Gov. Bong Lacson and the Murcia LGU headed by Mayor Gerry Rojas, the medical-dental mission was part of OHF’s 30th Founding Anniversary celebration themed “‘OHF’s 30th: Reliving the Bayanihan Spirit Amidst the Pandemic”.

“We congratulate Open Heart Foundation for 30 years of service for the empowerment of children and the youth. We thank them for, once again, choosing Murcia as the beneficiary of one of their programs. We welcome such participation from and partnership with NGOs and private groups in delivering more services to Murciahanons,” said Mayor Rojas.

“The medical-dental missions in the barangays is one of the ways by which our administration delivers our service right at our constituents’ doorsteps. The program, which has been conducted in several barangays already, proves our commitment to continuously improve health services delivery to our constituents,” the mayor added.

Mayor Rojas and Bluementritt Punong Barangay Ronald Olvido witness a beneficiary undergo dental treatment.*

OHF is a non-stock, non-profit NGO founded by American barrister Robert LeGore, who served as a public defender for youth offenders in the USA. He believed that, if the children and youth are given the opportunities and experiences to develop their potentials, they can become self-directed responsible, creative and productive members of society.

Together with a Chinese educator and three Filipinos who believed in the inherent worth and dignity of every child, LeGore established OHF in June 1992 to realize this vision.

On its 30th year, OHF conducted medical missions in partnership with the LGUs in the three major island groups in the country. For Luzon, it was held at Kabugao, Apayao on August 11; for Mindanao it was held in an IP community on August 31 in San Fernando, Bukidnon; vand for Visayas, it was conducted in Blumentritt, Murcia’s largest barangay.

The OHF team was led by Executive Director Ms. Rosalinda T. Perez and Board Members Marlyn Fernando and Atty. Natalia Guinto. Mayor Rojas welcomed OHF’s support in augmenting the town’s health program. For its part, the municipality sent its health personnel composed of doctors, midwives, nurses and volunteers headed by Municipal Health Officer Dr. Raymund Antonio Maguad.

The Provincial Health Office, headed by Dr. Ernell Tumimbang, sent six dentists and a dental aide, while Blumentritt Punong Barangay Ronald Olvido provided barangay health workers, barangay tanods and other staff to ensure the smooth and orderly conduct of the activity.

Dr. Von Andre Aposaga of the DOH inquires on the health status of a beneficiary.*

The 300 beneficiaries, composed of 150 adults and 150 children, received free medical consultations and medicines, dental services which include dental examination, tooth extraction and oral health education, as well as snacks, hygiene kits and tennis shoes.

Murcia has been a partner of OHP since 2019, thru OHF’s Children and Youth Development Program (CYDP) which provided financial assistance in the form of monthly allowances to selected senior high school and college students. During its Murcia activity, OHF also conducted a monitoring meeting with the students-beneficiaries.

OHF thanked Miriam Marfil, Emily Belleza, Lourdes Garcia, Tina dela Cruz, Remedios Quintan, L’Oreal and Maybeline Philippines and Venice 66 Fashions (Vans Philippines) for their support to OHF and the foundation’s programs.* (Butch Bacaoco)