Kuya Bong targets proper nutrition
The integration of nutritional support into these centers further reinforces the senator’s commitment to holistic healthcare.
Daily TribuneThe integration of nutritional support into these centers further reinforces the senator’s commitment to holistic healthcare.
PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF SBG Senator Christopher ‘Bong’ Go leads a feeding program to public hospitals in the country as part of his initiative to promote the importance of proper nutrition for Filipinos.
Senator Christopher "Bong" Go recently stressed that proper nutrition is a fundamental aspect of healing and maintaining overall health especially for patients and those in the medical community.
"We must ensure that our patients, as well as our tireless healthcare workers and frontliners, have access to nourishing food during these trying times," said Go, who also chairs the Senate Committee on Health and Demography.
With this, Go has recently conducted various feeding initiatives for patients, hospital workers, and frontliners in public hospitals with Malasakit Centers, to promote the importance of proper nutrition for Filipinos.
The lawmaker said that the Covid-19 pandemic has undoubtedly placed tremendous strain on the country's healthcare system and the healthcare professionals who are at the forefront of the battle against the virus.
"This is the reason why we took the initiative to ensure that those in need have access to nutritious meals, which is more than just sustenance but a symbol of care and support," said the senator.
Go's feeding program has already reached various hospitals with Malasakit Centers across the country. The integration of nutritional support into these centers further reinforces the senator's commitment to holistic healthcare.
So far, the senator's team has organized feeding initiatives through rice porridge or lugaw distribution, among others, in various public hospitals in Metro Manila. They also reached out to several hospitals in the provinces of Pampanga, Bulacan, Batangas, Cavite, Laguna and Rizal.
In Visayas, numerous patients, hospital workers, and frontliners from the provinces of Cebu, Aklan and Antique also benefitted from the feeding initiative. Last 7 October, the senator personally visited Cebu City Medical Center where he personally served meals to 400 individuals, including patients and hospital staff.
In Mindanao, Go's team also reached hospitals in Misamis Oriental, Lanao del Sur, Lanao del Norte, Bukidnon, Davao del Norte, Davao del Sur, Davao de Oro, Cotabato City, Surigao del Sur, Agusan del Norte and Sultan Kudarat for this feeding initiative.
Republic Act 11463, which was principally sponsored and authored by Go, institutionalized the Malasakit Centers program to help indigent patients with their medical expenses. To date, there are 159 operational centers that have successfully helped more than seven million Filipinos nationwide.
First established in Cebu in 2018, the Malasakit Center is a one-stop shop through which agencies such as the Department of Health, Department of Social Welfare and Development, Philippine Health Insurance Corporation and Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office assist indigent patients by bringing their hospital expenses to the lowest amount possible.
