San Miguel Corporation (SMC) has opened a women’s health clinic in Tondo to provide specialized healthcare for women from nearby poor communities.
In a statement, the conglomerate said the clinic aims to reduce the risk of breast and cervical cancer — two of the most common diseases among Filipino women.
SMC President and CEO Ramon S. Ang said this latest initiative will help arrest rising cases of reproductive health issues among women in urban poor communities, as part of its increased focus and involvement on women’s issues, under its wider social development agenda.
The clinic will provide free medical services, including obstetrics and gynecologic (OB-GYN) ultrasound, general ultrasound, and medical consultation for pregnancies and female reproductive health to over 400 women members of its Better World Tondo community.
Located within SMC’s “Better World Tondo” community center, which also functions as a feeding and learning center and food bank, the clinic will also hold regular health education sessions that will teach women from urban poor communities about cancer prevention, pregnancy healthcare, and nutrition, among others.
"For many women in poor communities, the needs of the family takes precedence over their own health. Instead of paying for healthcare, they might as well just buy food, pay for the rent, or buy school supplies. This is the unfortunate situation in which women find themselves in every day,” said Ang.
He added, “That is why they may often postpone the diagnosis of a serious health problem. With this clinic, we hope to be able to provide women with the proper health care they need."
"Apart from giving them access to free and specialized medical care and equipment, we will also work with medical experts to continuously guide them on how to prevent serious illnesses through early detection," Ang noted.
Prior to the opening of its women’s health clinic, Ang said that SMC had conducted an in-person survey among 170 women in their BWT community.
The survey revealed that close to 30 percent of the respondents had reproductive health-related illnesses, including breast and cervical cancer, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), and myomas.
This percentage may even increase, once more women undergo a thorough medical check-up at the clinic.
In the coming months, SMC also plans to work with a number of barangays in the area to conduct family planning sessions in the clinic.
This is the second major initiative of SMC to advocate the importance of health among underprivileged women.