A joint initiative between the Bayanihan Clinic Without Walls and Hawaii Filipino Healthcare offers free healthcare to Hawaii residents who have lost their jobs due to COVID-19. At far right, a volunteer with Ohana Medical Missions checks a child’s blood pressure on a healthcare trip to the Philippines. Children of the recently unemployed are also eligible for free healthcare through this new initiative. (Photo courtesy Philippine Medical Association of Hawaii)
Bayanihan Clinic Without Walls offers free medical services for the pandemic newly unemployed
By Anna Weaver
Hawaii Catholic Herald
People who are uninsured due to being laid off by the novel coronavirus’ impact on the economy here in Hawaii have an option to receive medical care, free, thanks to a group of volunteer Filipino physicians.
Doctors with the Bayanihan Clinic Without Walls, a Philippine Medical Association of Hawaii affiliate, and Hawaii Filipino Healthcare are offering their services free of charge to anyone on Oahu who lost their job and consequently their health insurance during the pandemic.
Though the two groups primarily serve Filipino immigrants to the islands, the COVID Relief Job Loss Program is for anyone unemployed and uninsured due to the coronavirus, said JP Orias, executive director of the Bayanihan Clinic Without Walls.
“It’s very basic kindness to help one another. Just that,” Orias said. The spirit of the organization is found in its name, Bayanihan, a Filipino word meaning to help one another.
The 35 or so doctors participating have a range of specialties from general practice and internal medicine to geriatrics. The group continues to look for more volunteer doctors and contributions to keep the medical care going.
With the pause in overseas mission work, Dr. Aurora Cunanan Mariani, president of Hawaii Filipino Healthcare, gave $10,000 of the money she normally donates to Ohana Medical Missions toward COVID-19 unemployment care instead. HFH, an HMSA-affiliate, is also giving $5,000 to the COVID-19 job loss medical program.
While Bayanihan Clinic Without Walls isn’t a Catholic organization, many of its members are.
Dr. Mariani, for instance, is Catholic and was taught by Franciscan Sisters all throughout her school years. She previously worked at St. Francis Medical Center before going into private practice at the Queen’s Physicians Building.
“I like helping people,” Dr. Mariani said. “That’s my mission.”
Dr. Mariani said that many of her clients are Filipino and putting off needed medical treatment for conditions like diabetes, hypertension and heart disease due to fears of COVID-19 or lack of insurance.
With this free medical care program, she’s hoping to reach those who might otherwise miss out on important treatments.
Learn more about COVID Relief Job Loss Program and how to access its free medical care at pmah-hawaii.org/joblossprogram, pmahinfo@gmail.com or (888) 671-3911.