UNIQLO, SM Foundation upgrade Bulacan health centers 

UNIQLO Philippines and SM Foundation, Inc. came together to upgrade four health centers in Bulacan – namely the Pulilan Rural Health Units (RHU) 1 and 2, as well as Baliwag RHU 1 and 3 last January 17, 2023, according to a report by Manila Bulletin.

The centers were improved to provide Bulakenos in the area easy access to health care services. These centers commonly treat skin rashes, urinary tract infections, upper respiratory infections, and other lifestyle illnesses such as hypertension and diabetes. 

The facilities also provide family planning, maternal and child health care, and treatments to prevent or control acute respiratory infection, cardiovascular diseases, tuberculosis, diarrheal diseases, and AIDS/STD. Baliwag RHU 3, meanwhile, has the capacity to perform childbirth delivery and minor surgeries. 

They also springboard national health programs on leprosy, rabies, dengue prevention, immunization, and nutrition, making health services accessible to the community.

To respond to their specialized needs, the collaboration rebuilt the facilities and reconstructed its layout to aptly place a modern reception area, lounge, breastfeeding area, cold chain storage area, pharmacy, laboratory, treatment room, OPD consultation room, dental clinic, sputum collection area, and TB DOTS and Animal Bites Centers.

There are also nurses’ rooms and doctors’ consultation rooms to enable frontline health workers to provide medical care in a conducive environment.

The centers are fully air-conditioned and feature rooms equipped with new chairs and tables, cabinets, medicines, fixtures, medical tools, and assistive devices such as wheelchairs. 

Beyond this, SM Foundation and UNIQLO also provided Emergency GoKit to each of the centers to ensure they can readily respond to untoward incidents, such as accidents and calamities.

The four newly upgraded facilities are also fitted with Mobile Play Cabinets containing interactive toys and educational books. These cabinets are positioned in the lounges to welcome young patients in a child-friendly environment and give them a holistic healing experience. 

During the event, representatives from SM Foundation and UNIQLO talked about the collaboration and their respective missions to uplift the lives of Filipinos, especially those in grassroots communities. 

“Ang aming pilosopiya o gabay sa paggawa ng damit ay ang tinatawag na livewear. Ito po ang paniniwala na ang mga damit ay maaaring magbigay ng magandang buhay sa pang araw-araw. Layunin naming mapaganda ang buhay ng mga Pilipino. Kami po ay tumutulong sa mga komunidad sa pamamagitan ng aming mga produkto at proyekto. Kaya kami ay nagagalak, sa tulong ng SM Foundation at SM Supermalls, ngayong araw na ito na ibahagi sa inyo ang mga health centers para mapanatili ang ating kalusugan lalo na sa mga panahong ito,” UNIQLO Vice President for Marketing Georgette Jalasco said.

“For us, social good goes beyond charitable giving. For us, it represents dedication to supporting our communities so they can achieve sustainable growth and development. It means giving them the opportunity to take hold of their own destiny, allowing them to move towards progress, and empowering them to have safe, healthy and productive lives,” SM Foundation Executive Director for Health and Wellness Connie Angeles said. 

SM Foundation, through its Health and Medical Programs, upgrades public health centers in its host communities, complemented by its medical caravans across the country. To date, it has renovated more than 170 health and wellness centers and served more than 1.1 million patients during its medical missions.