2,000 patients benefit in Zambo medical mission

By Gideon C. Corgue

PAGADIAN CITY, Zamboanga del Sur, May 28 (PIA) -- Around 2,000 poor patients have benefitted from the five-day free medical mission conducted on May 21 to 25 at the Zamboanga del Sur Medical Center (ZSMC) and rural health unit in Aurora. 

The medical mission was jointly organized by the Philippine-Australian Medical Association (PAMA), University of the Philippines-Philippine General Hospital (UP-PGH) Ugnayan ng Pahinungod, Rotary Club of Pagadian, Zamboanga del Sur Medical Society and the provincial government. 

Rotary Club of Pagadian’s medical mission committee chair Dr. Reynaldo Ortiz said at the ZSMC, volunteer doctors have performed 171 surgeries. There were 29 operations for thyroid, 22 were for Obstetrics and gyneocology, 2 cleft lip palate operations, 2 parotidectomy, 21 medium hernia repair and 67 minor surgeries. 

While in Aurora rural health unit, procedures performed were 50 minor surgery operations. A total of 400 were circumcised. There were 500 dental procedures and 1,100 medical and pediatric check-ups. 

Ortiz said he was very thankful to the officers of the rotary club thru its president John Steve Aleman that they never hesitated to invite the PAMA and UP-GPH, saying that huge numbers of poor patients need free medical attention. 

“We were deeply moved and grateful for the loving selfless service rendered by the PAMA and UP-PGH for their selfless service to our constituents especially the poor people who are longing to experience their charitable services. Without them, we could not give joy to the needy people,” Ortiz said. 

PAMA mission coordinator Dr. Roger Fabian, a Filipino general practitioner whose association is driven by a strong desire to help the needy, said it is heartening to see the smiles on these patients once their problems had been solved. 

“Niining misyon nga among gihimo, dinhi ninyo makita ang mga pahiyom sa pasyente human makatagamtam sa among serbisyo ug ang ilang mga pahiyom dili ninyo mapalit sa salapi. Sa ilang pag-uli, sila ang magpuyo sa normal nga himsog nga kinabuhi. (In this mission we have conducted, we can see the smiles on these patients after availing our services and you can’t put a price on their smiles. When they go back home surely they could live a normal healthy life),” Fabian, who is a native of the municipality of Aurora, spoke in his own language. 

Fabian has appreciated the support extended by their major partners saying it help them achieved their goals easier. “They are an integral part of our success. It enabled us to do what we do best,” Fabian added. 

Fabian said after the mission they have turned over to brand new equipment such as two units of fetal ultra sound, electrocardiogram, vital sign monitor and a pulse oximeter to ZSMC administrator Dr. Rovel Blancia. 

These equipment, Fabian said will be used for the indigent patients in the hospital. “It will not be used for commercial purposes,” Fabian explained. 

Fabian said PAMA’s mission conducted in ZamboSur was the fifth in the country. The first was in Quezon City in 2008, Sorsogon in 2009, Dumaguete city in 2012 and last year in Oroquieta.