A total of 1,600 learners from Kawmpang Elementary School in Sulu have received free medical, dental, vision and mental health services through the Yaman ng Kalusugan Program (YAKAP) Health and Kalinga Caravan, the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) said Wednesday.
In a news release, the state insurer said the initiative was held during President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s visit, highlighting the government’s commitment to keeping students healthy, engaged, and ready to learn.
The caravan brought essential healthcare directly to students in one of the country’s geographically isolated communities.
Education Secretary Sonny Angara, PhilHealth Regional Office Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (PRO BARMM) acting Regional Vice President Dagoraon Macarambon II, and the Department of Health helped eliminate healthcare barriers for schoolchildren and their families.
Through the YAKAP program, students received comprehensive health assessments, including primary care consultations, dental checkups, vision screenings, and mental health evaluations.
These preventive services enabled health professionals to identify and address conditions that may interfere with learning and the schoolchildren’s overall well-being.
Vision screenings helped detect eye conditions that can affect academic performance, while dental consultations addressed common oral health issues. Mental health evaluations helped identify students needing psychosocial support and early intervention.
PRO BARMM also set up a PhilHealth service desk to assist parents and guardians with membership registration, profile updating, and enrollment in their preferred YAKAP clinics.
The on-site assistance enabled families to access PhilHealth services without traveling long distances.
PhilHealth said the caravan’s school-based approach allowed health professionals to identify and address medical concerns early, helping prevent conditions that could adversely affect students’ attendance, participation, and academic achievement. (PNA)