With the aim to better serve the growing need for medical services in the SM communities, SM Foundation conducts 80 to 90 medical missions a year nationwide as part of its Health and Wellness programs. In line with this, the foundation has acquired mobile clinics equipped with state of the art mobile laboratories that will enable them to perform diagnostic services on site. These services are important in order to complement other medical services such as medical and dental consultation, eye consultation, tooth extraction, minor surgeries, and chiropractic services.

SM Foundation’s five (5) mobile clinics are assigned in different regions in Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao where SM Stores are located. They are deemed as indispensable in the foundation’s medical and dental missions for SM employees and their dependents as well as for victims in areas devastated by calamities and the underserved communities. At the same time, these are also used for the required annual physical examinations of SM employees.

“SM Mobile Clinics were purchased in support of the ‘Gamot Para sa Kapwa’ Medical Missions. It was established to provide diagnostic and laboratory services to people who cannot afford laboratory services and in areas where no such services are available,” said Connie Angeles, Executive Director for Health and Medical Programs of SM Foundation.

However, due to the restrictions brought by the pandemic, conducting medical missions is currently limited. To give its mobile clinics a new purpose, SM Foundation has deployed three (3) of these in NCR to be utilized as swabbing stations for SM employees and personnel’s COVID-19 tests.

As preparation for this, Dr. Bless Bertos from the SM Foundation had undergone a two-month training on the preparation and procedure of swabbing at the Philippine General Hospital (PGH). It was after her training that one of the mobile clinics was turned into a swabbing center of SM companies and its affiliates, and employees and their family members. From 20 patients, the center now services an average of 70 patients a day.

“What motivates me during this pandemic is that I am able to contribute to ensuring the best health conditions at our workplace – that I am able to contribute to the mental health and wellness of our employees, especially for those who are exposed to the virus. It can be stressful getting a COVID-19 test done and sometimes, waiting for results can cause significant anxiety. By having a systematized testing for our employees, we are able to shorten the duration of their anxiety, which will enable them to hug and be with their families as soon as possible,” said Dr. Bertos.

The staff manning the swabbing stations are required to wear personal protective equipment (PPE) as precautionary measures to avoid the spread of the virus while patients are instructed to strictly practice physical distancing and the use of face masks and face shields when availing of the services. Foot-pumped alcohol stations are also located at the entrance and exit of the clinic.

For her fellow frontliners who continue to work despite the risks and challenges of the times, Dr. Bertos has this to say: “Let’s take care of ourselves so that we will be well equipped to take care of those who need us. We need to be strong during this pandemic, not only for our patients but also for our families. Thank you for choosing every day to serve.”