Senior citizens living in the Special Geographical Area of the Bangsamoro Region received special gifts from the regional government on Valentine’s Day.
The Ministry of Social Service and Development (MSSD) on February 14 distributed health gadgets to the elderly to allow them to monitor their health even outside the hospital.
The distribution was done in Barangay Simsiman, Pigcawayan Cluster, where MSSD launched a new regular program called “Hadiya: Care Packages for Elderly Bangsamoro,” which will provide health care packages to poor senior citizens.
Hadiya is an Arabic term meaning “gift,” the information office said.
Under the program, poor senior citizens are given a health gadget package that allows them to monitor their health without depending on other members of their families.
The Hadiya package consists of a digital blood pressure monitor, finger pulse oximeter, thermal scanner, pill box, disposable face mask, liniment oil, alcohol, adult diaper, hot and cold compress, talc, relief rub, wooden back scraper, powdered milk, socks, towel, burn ointment, Betadine, gauze, surgical tape , cotton balls, plasters, tissue roll, hygiene kit and relief packs.
Sandra Macacua, focal point of MSSD’s Older Persons and Persons with Disability Welfare Program (OPPWDWP), and Lyca Therese Sarenas, MSSD Chief of Staff, led the initial distribution to 60 senior citizens.
There were 120 slots for the Special Geographical Area program, the term used to denote the scattered barangays from five municipalities in North Cotabato that chose to be included in the territory of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.
The beneficiaries were from Barangays Simsiman, Buricain, Matilak, Binasing, Balacayon, Patot, Libungan Toreta, Datu Mantil, Kadingilan, Upper and Lower Panggaklan and Lower Baguer in Pigcawayan.
Macacua said this was a new program of the ministry under the OPPWDWP, “recognizing the significant role of the Bangsamoro elders in nation building.”
“The targets are the frail and sick elderly and those with other health conditions,” Macacua said.
The ministry is targeting a total of 2,000 senior citizens across the region to benefit from the gadgets. At least 450 beneficiaries will be selected from Maguindanao, 310 from Lanao del Sur A, 310 from Lanao del Sur B, 250 from Basilan, 310 from Sulu, 250 from Tawi-Tawi, 120 in the Special Geographical Area, 95 from Cotabato City 95 from Marawi City.
Image credit: MSSD’s Facebook page