TACLOBAN CITY - Over 4,000 indigent persons seeking free medical attention are expected to avail on a medical mission spearheaded by An Waray Rep. Florencio “Bem” Noel with Filipino medical practitioners based in the United States on hand to attend the patients.

The medical practitioners, numbering 68 of them, expressed their pleasure in helping the needed individuals who came in droves during yesterday’s start of the four-day medical mission held at the Leyte gymnasium, this city.

“Of course, we are happy to help and serve our poor people. It’s really an inspiring thing to do,” says Susan Urbayan-David, a nurse by profession and the president of the 300-strong An Taclobanon Association of Southern California in an interview with Leyte Samar Daily Express.

For her part, Basilia Pesado, 64, and resident of Brgy. Diit, this city, could not help but expressed her gratitude to the members of the medical mission and to Rep. Noel.

“They came at a time when I am personally in need of some medicine. I have long suffered a high blood (pressure). My medicines are quite expensive which I could not really afford. I am really happy,” she told Express, holding a copy of a medical prescription.

Aside from the group of David, other members of the medical mission belong to the Auxiliary to the Philippines Medical Association of Michigan and Medical Mission for Children.

The members of the medical mission expects to provide free medical services, including surgeries, to more than 4,000 poor patients coming from different parts of the region.

“The An Waray is initiating this medical mission as part of our promise and mandate to help our poor people who are in need of medical services,” Rep. Noel told Express.

The sectoral representative said that conducting a medical mission has been one of the An Waray’s activities with the underprivileged as their main target clients.

For his part, Vice Mayor Efren Redoña of Tabon-Tabon, one of the most depressed municipalities in Leyte, expressed his appreciation on the medical mission initiated by the An Waray.

“This is really a big help to our (poor) people. They are being provided with free medicines by the group,” Redoña told Express.

Noel explained that by doing a medical mission, they also managed to help the government by giving fee medical services to those who are not given much attention by the government.

He also said that he was happy that the group’s undertaking is being supported by different government leaders like Leyte Gov. Jericho “Icot” Petilla.

“Our mission is really apolitical. We render service to those who are really in need,” Noel said. The medical mission is to end this Friday.