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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider First Lady meets Indian doctors, business leaders to advance pediatric healthcare

First Lady meets Indian doctors, business leaders to advance pediatric healthcare

Published Aug 30, 2025 07:21 am  |  Updated Aug 30, 2025 01:20 pm

At A Glance

  • The First Lady's meeting followed her visit to pediatric Filipino liver transplant patients at Apollo Hospital in New Delhi during President Marcos' State Visit to India earlier this month.
First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos met with Indian doctors and business leaders this week to push forward a project close to her heart — improving access to pediatric healthcare, particularly for Filipino children in need of liver transplants.
Photos from First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos' Instagram
Photos from First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos' Instagram
In an Instagram post, the First Lady said the initiative was inspired by the struggles of families forced to travel abroad to save their children, with many seeking care in India, where advanced and affordable procedures are available.
“Hearing the struggles of our kababayans seeking care abroad inspired me to help bring that same hope home — saving lives, making medicines accessible and building the care our children deserve here in the Philippines,” she wrote.
She stressed that her advocacy is anchored on three goals: saving lives, making medicine more affordable, and building medical services in the country.
“Together, we can make this hope a reality,” she added.

The First Lady’s meeting, which took place at her office on Aug. 26, followed her visit to pediatric Filipino liver transplant patients at Apollo Hospital in New Delhi during President Marcos’ State Visit to India earlier this month.
There, she met children battling serious conditions such as biliary atresia, a rare liver and bile duct disease, and spoke with their parents, who made the painful decision to leave home to secure life-saving treatment.
“Their parents made the painful decision to leave home and cross borders just to give their children a fighting chance — because these treatments still aren’t widely available back home,” she said.
Marcos assured the families they would not be forgotten, citing her collaboration with Apollo Hospital and the Philippine-India Chamber of Commerce to assist them throughout their treatment.
“We will do whatever we can to support you every step of the way,” she told them.
She lauded the courage and determination of the patients and their families, describing the children as “some of our bravest little warriors.”
“What I witnessed was more than just medicine at work — it was the strength of a mother’s love, the quiet courage of fathers, and the fierce will of children who simply want to live,” the First Lady said.

Related Tags

Liza Araneta-Marcos First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos PH-India Healthcare
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