US Rotarians conduct free kidney transplant in Iloilo City
The Rotary Club of Novato, California, United States of America, in coordination with the Rotary Club of Iloilo West and St. Paul’s Hospital-Iloilo, will conduct free kidney transplant to selected end stage renal disease Ilonggos on January 19-23, 2009 in Iloilo City. This free kidney transplant is part of Rotary’s ROTAPLANT Project here in the Visayas.
ROTAPLANT Project is spearheaded by Dr. Peter Bretan, a transplant, urologic and laparascopic surgeon from Novato, California. This project was started in Luzon in 2004 and 2005 at the National Kidney and Transplant Institute and in Mindanao last 2006 and 2007 at Davao Doctors Hospital. This is the first in the Visayas and Iloilo City is the first recipient of this noble project. St. Paul’s Hospital, being the only accredited transplant center in Western Visayas, was chosen as the venue of ROTAPLANT 2009.
Aside from kidney transplant, the group will also conduct laparoscopic kidney surgeries, cataract surgeries and Tuberculosis screening. The Rotarians from the US will also distribute books and reading materials to public schools in Iloilo City. Beneficiary schools include the Rizal Elementary School and Manuel L. Quezon Elementary School in Tanza and Bo. Obrero Elementary School in Lapuz, Iloilo City. Three Day Care Centers in Barangays Sto. Rosario, Bo. Obrero and Magsaysay will also benefit from the donations. Expenses will be funded by the Rotary Foundation.
Four noted surgeons will be coming to Iloilo to undertake this mission. These are Drs. Peter N. Bretan, Laurel Matthews, Jr., Arturo Martinez and Dan Lightfoot. They will be assisted by surgeons from the Philippines such as Dr. Frank Guillano of Davao Doctors Hospital, Dr. Ernesto Gerial of National Kidney and Transplant Institute, Dr. Lui Metran and Dr. Frank Guillano from Davao City.
The TB screening will be undertaken by Ms. Jessica Adamich of San Francisco, California, USA and Mr. Salvador Angala of Davao City.
The Rotary Club of Iloilo West is composed of Mr. Filoteo Palmares III (club president), Engr. Allan S. Dumalay (president-elect), Atty. Raul S. Anlocotan (vice president), Architect Jomari B. Moleta (secretary), Mr. Alfredo Alas-as (treasurer), Mr. Jose Ong (sgt. At arms), Mr. Bruce Hall (PRO). Rotarians Dr. Romulo S. Barrameda and Dr. Malbar G. Ferrer of St. Paul’s Hospital coordinate the entire project for Iloilo City.
The Rotary Club of Iloilo West is composed of 21 members representing different professions and meets regularly during Wednesday evenings at Hotel del Rio.