He said 13 members of a newly organized association of pharmacists on Saipan joined the quarterly volunteer-service initiated by the consulate general in cooperation with the Philippine Overseas Labor Office, and the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration.
Volunteers from the Commonwealth Health Center and the Hardt Eye Clinic once again provided free services to the workers, he added.
Last Sunday, about 315 availed of the blood pressure and sugar level tests while 99 underwent eye-vision examination.
Of the 315, only 97 were new while the rest were considered regular patients.
There were 43 new patients for the eye-vision check-up.
Macaraig noted a significant increase in the number of patients and he attributed it to the services extended by the new volunteers.
The free health screening serves 395 workers every quarter, he added.
However, this reflects a decline compared to last year’s figures.
“Some of the [workers] have left Saipan,” Macaraig said.
But the program will continue to be offered next year, he added.
His office, he said, will evaluate organizations that will offer volunteer services so they can be accommodated in areas appropriate to their expertise.
