US medical team starts mission in Iloilo
The US Medical Mission Team pose for posterity
with some provincial government officials.
The United States Medical Team that arrived here last Jan. 26 started Tuesday, January 30, its five-day mission at the Iloilo Provincial Hospital in Pototan to provide free consultations, surgery and other health services to the indigent Ilonggos.
The US Medical Mission Team that is composed of volunteer surgeons is ready to conduct 20 surgeries a day from minor to major cases depending on the assessment.
The team, which is on its second year of mission in the Province of Iloilo, has also brought along medicines and equipment needed in the operation, including six dialysis units for patients diagnosed with kidney trouble.
Ilonggo Melvin Barrido, who hails from Barotac Viejo the hometown of Gov. Niel D. Tupas, Sr., and his wife organize this mission with their American doctor friends in order to provide free medical treatment to those who are sick but could not afford to go to the hospital.
Barrido, in an interview, said that the medicines they have brought are donations from people in the U.S. who have great concern for the Ilonggos.
Because of this medical mission, many Ilonggo people have come early to the provincial hospital today to avail of the services.
Iloilo Provincial Health Officer Patricia Grace Trabado herself leads the local doctors and medical staff in augmenting and assisting the American specialists.
The medical mission will be until Feb. 3, 2007 so Dr. Trabado said that Ilonggos could come to the provincial hospital within the scheduled days.
(PNA)