Medical-surgical mission benefit many Ilonggos

By Tommy Nichols
05:00 PM Wed February 12, 2020

HUNDREDS of Ilonggo patients benefited from the four-day medical and surgical mission of Marian Rose World Mission (MRWM) and Life is Great (LIG) Global Foundation last week.

The mission brought 98 volunteers, composed of doctors, nurses, and other medical workers from the United States of America (USA) to undertake the medical procedures for free.

It was made possible through the effort of MRWM president Cristy Garcia Pamaar, an anaesthesiologist based in New Jersey, USA, but hails from North Fundidor, Molo, Iloilo City.

Provincial Administrator Raul Banias, who facilitated the conduct of the medical and surgical mission, said the beneficiaries were pre-selected by the hospitals and the concerned municipal health offices.

The cataract operations were held at the Iloilo Provincial Hospital (IPH) in Pototan, Iloilo while corneal transplants were conducted at Western Visayas Medical Center (WVMC) in Mandurriao, Iloilo City.

The eye surgeries were made with the help of the Philippine Academy of Ophthalmology - Western Visayas Chapter led by Doctor Karen Francia and the Makati Medical Center.

Cataract surgeries for 22 patients were successfully done at IPH while 10 surgeries were done at WVMC. Ten patients were recipients of corneal transplant.

In Rep. Pedro G. Trono Memorial District Hospital in Guimbal, 37 patients with gynecological diseases were successfully operated. The patients mostly suffered from myoma, uterine prolapse, and ovarian cyst. Eight patients with breast mass have also undergone surgery.

LIG Global Foundation president Ernani Sadural said the activity was their fifth mission in the Philippines and they are happy with their partnership with Iloilo Governor Arthur Defensor Sr.

This year, Sadural said, they have expanded their medical and surgical mission to include educational programs for midwives and other stakeholders.

Defensor thanked MRWM and LIG Global for making the province a recipient of their worthy endeavor.

He noted Marian Rose also extended help to the survivors of Typhoon Yolanda in 2013 by donating medicines and other medical supplies especially to northern Iloilo.

As part of their educational program, MRWM and LIG Global Foundation organized a career symposium, team building and arnis training for orphaned boys aging from 14-17 in San Joaquin, Iloilo.

They also conducted a psychology, dental, ENT and pediatric clinic in Sped School in Oton, Iloilo and caring for caregivers workshop for Alzheimers patients in Asilo de Molo, gift-giving activities, and many other activities. (Capitol News)