By Russtum G. Pelima
KIAMBA, Sarangani (May 31, 2008) – A thousand indigent patients were undergoing major surgeries such as cyst, cataract, goiter, uterus, and dental operations here in a week-long medical mission starting Friday, May 30.
The University of Santo Tomas Medical Mission Inc. (USTMMI) has called for its alumni to join its largest medical mission, reaching out to Sarangani's poorest of the poor.
And 82 doctors and medical staff of USTMMI arrived from Manila at the General Santos City international airport Friday (May 30).
UST alumni working in General Santos City Doctors Hospital and Sultan Kudarat Doctors' Hospital in Kiamba joined the medical mission.
"We are very grateful for your coming," Mayor Rom Falgui told the USTMMI medical team.
"Most of our patients are our indigents whom we really prioritize to get this once-in-a-lifetime medical assistance," the mayor said.
The medics have turned Kiamba Central Elementary School into a virtual hospital where patients were diagnosed, operated on and accommodated during their recovery period.
Dr. Renato dela Cruz, Mayor Falgui's cousin, convinced his colleagues to conduct the mission after seeing the health needs of Kiamba.
"We always try to reach out to our poorest of the poor through our medical missions," mission head Dr. William Olalia said.
Dr. Olalia's team is composed of 26 surgeons, 15 anesthesiologists, three orthopedic surgeons, and the rest are nurses and medical technologists.
The team set up an operating room for 10 operating tables. Classrooms were used as wards for the patients and billeting quarters for the medical staff.
In a pre-screening conducted by General Santos City Doctors Hospital headed by administrative director and UST alumnus Daniel Yap, USTMMI has to perform 50 major operations and at least 200 minor operations from the recorded 500 patients screened last April.
Among them is Nicasia Pertubal, 84, who will undergo an extra capsular cataract extraction on her right eye by Dr. Dante Tamondong Eugenio, a UST alumnus serving at the Sultan Kudarat Doctors' Hospital.
Mayor Falgui has earlier sought to strengthen Kiamba's health programs through expanded immunization program against filariasis, rabies, tuberculosis, malaria and the rest of the top 10 causes of morbidity.
The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has been contributing to health outcomes of Kiamba and its neighboring towns of Maitum and Maasim through International Aid's Maximizing Access to Child's Health (MATCH).
The MATCH project provides training for barangay health workers, with basic medical equipment. The town has two hospitals and a health center, catering health services for its 53,000 populace whose main livelihood is fishing and farming. (Russtum G. Pelima/SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE)
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