Every Medical Mission is a story. It is not just a yearly activity. It is more than just a once a year visit of medical doctors offering their services for free. For AS, It is these three things, 1.) the stories of the those whose lives have changed after being served in the mission, 2.) teamwork and collaboration of ASF with the private and government doctors and 3.) eye-opener to the real health situation of these communities. This year’s mission is another story to tell.
Last May 23-27, 2017, was our 11th Annual Health Caravan. We traveled to three (3) Island-Barangays- Diit, Algeciras and Manamoc, to provide medical & dental services. It has now developed into Multi-Specialty Medical Mission. This year, we are blessed by the presence of 23 doctors with specialties in Pediatrics, Surgery, Dermatology, Radiology, ENT, Emergency Medicine, General Medicine and Dental who rendered medical consultations and dental services. With their support we were able to provide Adult and Pedia consultations, eye check-ups and free reading glasses, circumcisions, Pre-natal check-ups as well as ECG tests, OB-Gyne and General Ultrasound, wherein results are being released immediately after the scan, and collection of Papsmear samples which were brought to Manila for laboratory results. Also, the team is able to provide minor surgeries for removal of masses. Finally, distribution of free over-the-counter medicines and vitamins.
Pictures 1-4: Adult Consultations
Pictures 5-9: Pediatric Consultations
Picture 10: Derma Consultations with free medicated lotion/cream Picture 11: ENT Consultations
Pictures 12-13: Tooth Extractions
Picture 14: Tooth Extractions Picture 15: Tooth preventives
Picture 16: OB- Gyne Ultrasound Scan Picture 17: General Ultrasound Scan
Pictures 18-19: Eye check-ups and free reading glasses
Picture 20: Circumcisions Picture 21: ECG tests
Picture 22: Pap Smear samples collected and sent to Manila for results Picture 23: Pre-natal Check-ups
Pictures 24-25: Minor Surgeries/ Removal of cysts
Pictures 26-27: Learning Session on Oral Hygiene for children
Picture 28-29: Distribution of free over-the-counter medicines and vitamins
This initiative, though started by The Andres Soriano Foundation, we are thankful for the doctors who gave their time and dedication, who are willing to go the extra mile and reach the isolated communities to be able to listen to their health complaints and patiently provide diagnosis and treatment, West Villa Property Holdings, Island Aviation Inc., and Pamalican Resort Inc. who offered their facilities and assistance to ensure the safety and comfort of the 23 volunteer-doctors, Department of Health Region MIMAROPA and UNILAB who gave their full support in donating plentiful over-the-counter medicines and vitamins, Macropharma Corporation for the T-shirts of the doctors and volunteers during the mission, and Barangay Councils of and volunteers from Barangays Diit and Algeciras in Agutaya and Manamoc in Cuyo. The LGU of Agutaya graciously lent their rescue speed boat to ferry doctors to and from the mission site.
As time goes by, medical services are being continuously improved and partnerships with stakeholders are being forged to implement health projects for long term sustainability addressing concerns which were observed during the Medical Mission.
Check out this year’s Medical Mission in our Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/asorianofdn/photos/?tab=album&album_id=1351924161522423
We accept cash and in-kind (medicines or medical equipment/supplies) donations for our Annual Health Caravan 2018, email us at operations@asorianofoundation.org