(Photo courtesy of PhilHealth)
MANILA, Philippines – Around 1,600 students from Kawmpang Elementary School in Sulu received free medical, dental, vision, and mental health services through the Yaman ng Kalusugan Program (YAKAP) Health and Kalinga Caravan, the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) reported Wednesday, October 21.
The healthcare initiative coincided with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s visit to the province, underscoring the government’s efforts to improve access to essential health services in geographically isolated communities.
The caravan was conducted in coordination with the Department of Education (DepEd), Department of Health (DOH), and PhilHealth Regional Office in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (PRO BARMM).
Education Secretary Sonny Angara and PRO BARMM Acting Regional Vice President Dagoraon Macarambon II joined efforts to bring healthcare services directly to students and their families.
Under the program, learners underwent primary care consultations, dental examinations, vision screenings, and mental health assessments to detect health conditions that could affect their education and overall well-being.
The vision screenings aimed to identify eyesight problems that may interfere with classroom learning, while dental consultations addressed oral health concerns. Mental health evaluations also helped identify children who may require psychosocial support or early intervention.
Meanwhile, PhilHealth established an on-site assistance desk to help parents and guardians register for membership, update personal information, and enroll in their preferred YAKAP clinics.
The service allowed families to access PhilHealth assistance without traveling long distances to government offices or healthcare facilities.
PhilHealth emphasized that bringing preventive healthcare directly to schools enables early detection and treatment of medical conditions that could affect students’ attendance, classroom participation, and academic performance.
The initiative forms part of the government’s continuing efforts to expand healthcare access and support the health and development of Filipino learners, particularly those in underserved communities.
