More than 39,000 Manileños have availed of the services in the medical missions spearheaded by Manila Vice Mayor John Marvin “Yul Servo” Nieto, the city government announced on Thursday, March 14.

Since the beginning of Nieto’s term as vice mayor, he has already undertaken 27 missions across the six districts of Manila.

After his successful medical mission on February 23 at the Baseco, Port Area, the vice mayor and his staff has started preparing to conduct another medical mission on March 15 at the Tenement Compound in Punta, Santa Ana, Manila. 

His medical missions, which provide free primary medical services to Manileños who otherwise have no access to basic health care, have already helped a lot of financially challenged residents of Manila.  

Apart from medical consultation, the mission also offer basic laboratory tests, eye checkup, and minor medical and dental procedures. 

They also make various wellness services available, including haircuts, massage, and facial treatments.

The program is usually held in partnership with philanthropic organizations, with the help of volunteers from city-owned hospitals, private individuals, including the volunteers from the Public Attorney’s Office(PAO) who provide free legal advice to those who need it.

Nieto said that this is his own little way of lessening the burden of costly medical checkup, especially for the indigent and needy residents of Manila.

“Alam kong magastos ang magpacheck up at makabili ng mga kinakailangang gamot kung may sakit… kaya kung maaari, sana makatulong ang medical mission na ating ginagawa upang maiwasan ng ating mga kababayan ang pagkakasakit. Sabi nga, prevention is better than cure (I know medicines and medical checkups are expensive, I hope the medical missions could help them aid this problem and prevent them from getting sick) ,” he said.