Biggest American Medical Mission in 2nd District today
Secretary Augusto Boboy Syjuco, Director General of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), and wife Second District Representative Judy Jalbuena Syjuco lead today’s biggest American Medical Mission.
Realized with local volunteer doctors, TESDA’s Health Care program and Allied Community Service Program Scholars, intended recipients are at least 3,000 constituents of the eight Second District towns.
Some 50 doctors, dentists and nurses primarily comprised the American Medical Mission Team, coming from the renowned Stanford University School of Medicine of California, USA.
Dr. Julieta Gabiola, Clinical Associate Professor of Stanford University and founder of ABC’s for Global Health is among the Filipino-Americans in the group.
In an interview, Gabiola shared with local reporters the unified effort put up by the medical team including MedLend Organization led by its Executive Administrator Page Hamilton.
Free medical services, free medicines alongside free medical education to the recipients are slated, added Lauren Maggio, Stanford University’s Medical Education Librarian.
“We are grateful of the opportunity given to us to be able to serve Iloilo… thank you to the local volunteer doctors and medical team, thank you to Congresswoman Judy Syjuco, thank you to Secretary Augusto Boboy Syjuco and TESDA. And thank you to Her Excellency, President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo for making all these possible,” Gabiola said.
Venue of the three-day medical mission is the newly-renovated 50-bed General Hospital of the Western Visayas Sanitarium in Sta. Barbara, Iloilo.
A priority project of the Serbisyo Syjuco Program, the medical mission will conduct 25 major surgeries, 90 minor surgeries and 60 cataract eye operations. Also slated are 600 dental extractions, 900 out-patient consultations with free medicines, 1,000 blood glucose checks and 2,500 eye examinations with free eye glasses thereafter.
Major surgeries include Herniorraphy, Hemorrhoidectomy, Cleft Lip/Cleft Palate and OB Gyne cases with patients pre-screened and cleared for surgery to date.
Minor surgeries include cyst/mole removal, circumcision, bilateral tubal ligation and Pterydgium Removal.
“We will try to accommodate as many as our American team and Ilonggo doctors could help. But those who will not be able to be assisted on these days will certainly be prioritized in the ongoing medical missions of Serbisyo Syjuco. All they have to do is coordinate with their barangay captains or our hardworking coordinators of the Tagipusuon Foundation,” Secretary Syjuco said.
Representative Judy for her part has since prioritized health services with Serbisyo Syjuco behind districtwide continuing medical missions, feeding programs, free hospitalization and PhilHealth coverage for over 45,000 locals.
