This program was first introduced by the Honorable Congressman, Dr. Manuel N. Mamba during his stint as Mayor of Tuao, Cagayan from 1988 to 1995. His younger brother, presently the Presidential Assistant for Region 02, had maintained the program during his three (3) consecutive terms as Mayor of Tuao from 1995 to 2004. Today, because of the various benefits and gains derived from the program, the administration of Honorable William N. Mamba is bent on institutionalizing it.
The Free Medical and Dental Mission is regular program of the Local Government Unit of Tuao. It aims to meet the health needs of the poor especially in far-flung barangays and to keep a check on the health services being received by the people.
The mission is a 16-day activity that covers two barangays each day, one barangay in the morning and one in the afternoon.
Among the services offered are :
- Free medical check up and consultation
- Dispensing of medicines
- Dental Services
- Giving of Free reading eyeglasses
- Minor Surgery and “Operation Tuli”
Other services like branding of large cattle, free haircut services, civil registration, solemnization of marriages, real property tax collection and animal vaccination are incorporated in this program.
Health personnel and other key players tapped for this undertaking are the Municipal Health Officer, Dentist, Nurses and Midwives of Municipal Health Office-Tuao, volunteer doctors and dentist from the private sector; medical personnel from Tuao District Hospital, Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP), Philippine National Police and the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP)-Tuao, and the BFP-EMS Region.
Special Medical Missions for Free Eye Cataract, Cleft Lip and Palate operations are also undertaken annually, every second quarter of the year. The Missions not only cover the Municipality of Tuao, but also the six (6) other municipalities of the 3rd District of Cagayan, sponsored by the Office of the Congressman and the Office of the Presidential Assistant for Region 02 in cooperation with SUKOB, Inc., Epheta Foundation, Philippine Band of Mercy, march of Christ, UST Faculty of Medicine and other Non-Governmental Organizations.
