From FilAms with love

THE combined 105-strong medical mission team of the Philippine Medical Associations of Chicago and Metropolitan Washington, D.C. treated a total of 5,418 indigent patients from all over Naga City and the province of Camarines Sur during their 5-day medical and surgical mission here, from January 10-14, 2005.

City Health Officer Vito ‘Butch’ Borja disclosed in the final accomplishment report that 4,820 availed of free medical and out-patient consultation and free medicines; 118 went under the knife for various general surgical operations; 79 had their cataracts and ptyrigium operated on, and; 401patients availed of dental services and tooth extractions. In general surgery, most of the procedures done were for thyroidectomy (goiter), hysterectomy (myoma) cleft lip and palate (cleiloplasty and palatoplasty), herniotomy, and chlocystectomy. In one instance, a tumor as large as a basketball was excised from the stomach of a woman patient.

By his own calculation, Borja said the whole medical and surgical mission would have cost a whopping equivalent amount of P9.7-million that represented the cost of free medicines, surgical procedures, laboratory fees, free eyeglasses, and the surgeons’ professional fees under normal conditions.

The visiting surgeons also paid for their own air fare and hotel bills, the latter could amount to as much as P750,000 for 105 guests at P1,000 per for 7 days (they billeted as early as Saturday and Sunday), excluding the two dinners they hosted.

Still other patients who needed closer examination and due to time constraint were referred to the Philippine General Hospital, their fare and food expenses provided by the medical mission teams, with endorsement by the Naga City Health Office for free medicines and surgical operation.

Other patients, especially those with TB and other lingering illnesses were given free medicine supply that would last them for 3 to 6 months to insure continued medication while several others were guaranteed a one-year supply of free medicine and medical attention through the City Health Office.

The missionaries, who were mostly Filipino American surgeons, confirmed the mission as successful, having met their target of over 5,000 patients in the 5-day mission, conducted in three different venues in Naga City. These venues were the Bicol Medical Center for surgery; Ago Foundation Hospital for Ophthalmology; and the Naga City Gym and Youth Center for medical consultation and dispensing of free medicines, as well as dental operations.

Dr. Al Estrada, president of the PMA Chicago headed the surgical component of the mission, along with Dr. Ronnie Ursua of the Bicol Medical Center.

Dr. Ted Gancayco, president of the PMA Metropolitan Washington, D.C. headed the ophthalmology group at the Ago Foundation Hospital, along with Dr. Roy Principe of the local chapter of the Phil. Academy of Ophthalmology.

Dr. Borja took charge of the medical consultations and referrals, while Dr. Luz Ajero-Froehlich, president of the Bicol Association of Metropolitan Washington, D.C. and her team manned the pharmacy whose inventory filled two rooms at the Naga City Youth Hostel.

The 3-day dental services (Jan. 11-13), on the other hand, were conducted by local dentists, headed by Dr. Ferdie Zantua, president of the Naga-based Camarines Sur Dental Society.

A winding-up dinner and program were held Friday evening at Dolores Hall of Villa Caceres Hotel here, where Naga City Mayor Jesse M. Robredo, assisted by Vice-Mayor Gabriel H. Bordado presented the missionaries with native-crafted tokens and plaques of appreciation. The city mayor and the city vice-mayor likewise presented framed copies of a city council resolution extending grateful appreciation to the combined medical mission teams.

“What you have done in a week summed up the accomplishments of medical missions that we normally have in a year,” the grateful city mayor told the Fil-Am doctors whose combined resources and expertise became the biggest medical mission ever held in the city and province for five straight days.

Milagros Drilon, wife of the Senate President and native of San Jose, Camarines Sur and aunt of Ted’s wife, Bettina Obias-Gancayco, graced the closing program as special guest.

She and Mayor Robredo had earlier been invited by the USI High School Class of ’82 (to which Atty. Leni Gerona-Robredo and Bettina belong) to distribute backpacks loaded with school supplies to some 300 indigent schoolchildren.

In her speech, Mrs. Drilon thanked the Filipino-American surgeons for their act of patriotism and community service that gave Bicol’s “poorest of the poor” hope to live normal lives.

She said the successful medical mission reflected Mayor Robredo’s and the city officialdom’s preferential attention to those in need of help and the city government’s effective way of linking with non-government organizations in bringing programs and projects that maximize public service in the face of the national government’s limited resources. On this note, Mrs. Drilon promised she would convince her husband to apportion part of the senator’s 2005 countrywide development fund to the mayor’s pro-poor programs.

The next day, Saturday, the visiting surgeons were treated to a tour towards Legazpi City for a close encounter with Mt. Mayon, the world’s perfect-cone in Albay, some 99 kilometers away from Naga. Earlier, they toured around Naga City’s museums and landmarks in the afternoon of Friday.

The surgeons thanked Mr. and Mrs Tom-Tom Obias, the Rotary Club of Naga, Camarines Sur Lions Club, and the city government for hosting dinners and fellowship nights at Villa Caceres Hotel, Oasis Grill, Bob Marlin, and Lolo’s Bar. They had one last sumptuous dinner at Chili Peppers on the eve of their departure.