World Family Doctors' Day - Filipino Style
The Philippines celebrated World Family Doctors' Day with much aplomb. May 19, 2012 was institutionalized through Presidential Proclamation 168, by President, Benigno S Aquino III. And as if on cue, a majority of the 58 chapters and 45 accredited training hospitals of the Philippine Academy of Family Physicians (PAFP) participated in the grand event, providing significant services and assistance to countless patients and families.
The celebration was doubly rewarding in the light of the present government's thrust of Kalusugang Pangkalahatan, or Universal Health Care. The national leadership has paved the way for sponsorship of 5.2 million families so that they may have access to health delivery. This is through strengthening of the Philippine health insurance coverage and primary care program, which is really part of the mandate of family physicians. Now more than ever, every Filipino family should have a family doctor with expertise and training on addressing the majority of medical problems, in the context of community and society.
PAFP recognizes this welcome development and was at the forefront of various activities, including lay fora (15 chapters), commemorative masses (seven chapters), free consultations with medications (18 chapters), exercise program / walkathon (four chapters), cholesterol /glucose screening/bone densitometry/immunization (four chapters), lecture/seminar (three chapters), breakfast and bonding with families (three chapters), poster presentation / AVP / flyers (three chapters), circumcision mission (Las Pinas and Taguig), a radio broadcast (Zamboanga del sur), and motorcade (Manila and Pagadian).