MOA on surgical healthcare
for indigent patients signed

A memorandum of agreement to provide quality medical and surgical healthcare to indigent-patients, through the Negros Occidental Comprehensive Health Program, was entered into between the province and the Philippine College of Surgeons last week.

The province was represented by Gov. Alfredo Marañon Jr., and the PCS led by Dr. Maximo Simbulan Jr., a press release from the Capitol said.

Under the MOA, PCS fellows and members will provide surgical services, skills and expertise to NOCHP members and their dependents within the “No Balance Bill” program of the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, the press release also said.

NOCHP is a priority program of the provincial government that seeks to provide comprehensive health care to indigents. The card entitles the member and his or her dependents to free outpatient and subsidized in-patient care in provincial government-run hospitals and in the Corazon Locsin Montelibano Memorial Regional Hospital in Bacolod City.

From September 2010 to March 2012, 11,396 NOCHP cardholders have availed of the NOCHP services, the press release added.*

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Bacoleña awarded as
outstanding Asian-Canadian

Bacoleña Melinda Parreno-Rustia, president of the Kol Hope Foundation for Children, was awarded as Outstanding Asian Canadian 2012, at the 10th Annual Outstanding Asian Canadian Awards Gala, at the Premiere Ballroom and Convention Centre in Toronto, Canada, recently, a press release said.

The event kicked off the Asian Heritage Month in Canada, that is celebrating its 10th anniversary, that was established May 21, 2002, by the Parliament of Canada, “in recognition of the long and rich history of Asian-Canadians and their contributions to building Canada as a multicultural country in the world, the press release said.

Rustia was recognized for her humanitarian efforts and contributions to Canadian society as president of the Foundation, and for improving the lives of Canadian children with disabilities.

The Foundation is the only one of its kind in Canada that helps and support children born with Trisomy-related disabilities. He has helped fund the genetics clinic at Sick Kids Hospital, fund the purchase of wheelchairs, summer camps and respite care at Easter Seals Canada, the press release said.

Rustia, who has donated P1.8 million to two children’s homes in the Philippines – the Bacolod Boys Home and Holy Infant Nursery – dedicated her award to her grandson Kol, who, she said, died last year but continued to inspire her and was the reason for the establishment of the Foundation, the press release also said.

She was the only Filipino awardee from  the 500,000-strong Filipino-Canadian community, and 3.4 million Asian Canadians. The 14 others represented the various Asian communities in Canada, including the Chinese, Vietnamese, Japanese, Malaysian, and Korean, the press release added.*

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