Overseas Workers Welfare Administration officer Reynaldo Tayag said the health screening will be held from 7 a.m. to 12 noon on the ground floor of the Marianas Business Plaza Building, formerly the Nauru Building.
He said the free health screening is conducted regularly every quarter of the year in cooperation with the Filipino Volunteer Medical Team and the Hardt Eye Clinic. It includes medical services such as blood pressure, blood sugar, and vision check-ups.
The year’s health screening sessions, according to Philippine Consul General Wilfredo Maximo, will include short lectures on topics such as preventing diabetes, hypertension and obesity.
“Those who want to avail of the free health screening are invited to come early, possibly before 7 a.m. for the registration,” Maximo said.
He added that those who want to have their blood sugar tested must not take solid and liquid food from 12 midnight up to the actual testing.
Maximo said last year, 1,586 Filipino workers availed themselves of the free blood pressure/blood sugar and vision checks-ups.
He said close to 400 workers come for the free quarterly check-ups.
Records of the fourth quarter of 2008 health screening activity showed a total of 406 workers served.
Of this number, 307 had their blood pressure/blood sugar checked-up while 99 had their eye-vision examined.
“I hope this project would continue so that we can increase the level of awareness on the prevention of diabetes and hypertension, and as well as on the correction of eye/vision pressure among the workers,” Maximo said.
He added that through this project, the Philippine Consulate General hopes to reach more workers and serve even if in a modest way to respond to their medical needs.
“We are also fostering the spirit of volunteerism among the medical volunteers team and Hardt Eye Clinic, in the true spirit of Filipino Bayanihan here on Saipan,” he said.
