A special program of the Bangsamoro Government has been easing the burden of thousands of Bangsamoro constituents, especially the indigent patients, in terms of hospitalization.
The Office of the Chief Minister’s (OCM) flagship program, the Ayudang Medical Mula Sa Bangsamoro Government (AMBaG), aims to provide medical support to Moro and Non-Moro, indigenous peoples and settlers inside and outside the jurisdiction of the BARMM.
One of the beneficiaries was Rasmia Belon, a resident of Brgy. Bulalo, Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao del Norte.
Belon was admitted to Cotabato Regional Medical Center (CRMC) in Cotabato City due to gallstones in her gallbladder.
She recounted, “I’ve been enduring the pain this condition has caused me for a long time because of the lack of financial resources,” Belon said.
“When I learned that the Bangsamoro Government has this program, AMBaG, I did not hesitate to find a doctor so that I could finally be admitted to the hospital [CRMC] for an operation,” she said.
She said they spent a lot of money on the operation.
“We’ve spent more than one hundred thousand pesos. I was so worried about where to get money to pay our bills in the hospital, and then my family came to AMBaG. Thankfully, they were assisted by their staff, and eventually, helped us with our hospital bills,” she said.
Belon’s hospitalization was covered by AMBaG after complying with the requirements.
“We are very thankful to Chief Minister Ahod Balawag Ebrahim for conceptualizing this program. Truly, it is of great help, especially for us who cannot afford much in terms of hospitalization. Most importantly, we are thankful to the Almighty Allah,” Belon remarked.
Currently, the said program has released a total of Php327,569,663, which helped 43,237 needy patients who received financial assistance since its launch in December 2019. Of this number, the majority are women (20,551), followed by children (12,638), and men (10,048) patients.
The program has reached eighteen (18) hospital partners within the BARMM while another ten (10) hospitals outside the Region. Hence, the government works closely with partner hospitals to continuously update and expand quality services.
Accordingly, 74.3% or 32,126 families went home from the hospital with zero balance after availing of AMBaG and other medical services. In response to the ongoing pandemic, the program has also helped 1,298 Covid-related cases.
It is also worth noting that aside from financial assistance, the Government of the Day also expanded its medical efforts by providing hospital facilities, equipment, as well as new vehicles ensuring the availability of services for the Bangsamoro people.
Truly, “Kalinga at Serbisyo, ito ang AMBaG ng Bangsamoro!” ( Aisah Abas/Johaira Sahidala/BIO)
