Cagayan de Oro inmates get free health care

By Elaine O. Ratunil

Saturday 21st of July 2012

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, July 21 (PIA) -- The Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) provides inmates the necessary health care, which covers medical and dental services.

Following the call of jail senior Superintendent Abraham Pil Lintao, BJMP-10 regional director, 49 doctors, nurses, and dentists from Cagayan de Oro City health office and barangay health center visited the Cagayan de Oro City jail in barangay Lumbia on July 12.

The team, headed by Dr. Jerie Calingasan, was there 7:30 a.m. and by noon, almost a thousand inmates have already availed themselves of free medical services. A total of 710 inmates had medical checkups and were given medicines and vitamins. Further, 235 more inmates underwent dental checkup, which included tooth extraction.

Meanwhile, 200 inmates of Iligan City Jail had free medical and dental services provided by the Seventh Day Adventist and Jamiatu Al-Islamiah Foundation College of Marawi City recently.

“We are very grateful for the involvement of the community be they be local government unit, church or school organization in supporting BJMP’s undertaking in looking after the welfare of inmates temporarily incarcerated behind bars,” expressed Lintao.

BJMP is on its 21st year as being one of the bureau of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) mandated with providing humane safekeeping and development to all inmates under its guardianship. (Jeza Mae Sarah Sanchez/BJMP/EOR-PIA 10)