Sunday, June 29, 2008 'Operation Bukol' attracts indigents
BACOLOR -- Saturday's "Operation Bukol" by government and non-government organizations (NGOs) here has attracted over a hundred indigents and organizers expect more patients to avail of the free surgery services on Sunday.
The program was set-up by the Rotary Club of San Francisco Del Monte Bulacan, ABS-CBN Foundation, Rotary Club of Villa de Bacolor, Municipal Government and or Rural Health Unit here, and Globe Asiatique.
The program started Saturday at Xevera Subdivision in Barangay Calibutbut here and will continue until Sunday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Jess Nicdao of the Rotary Club of Villa de Bacolor said two mobile units were commissioned for the event. The mobile units provided X-ray, ECG, and ultrasound scans for indigents undergoing screening and operation.
"We have people here who have unwanted growths like 'bukol' on their bodies but they could not have them removed because of the expenses in surgery and services from hospitals who charge a lot. Here, the surgery is given to them for free," Nicdao said.
The program, he said, provides major and minor operations for free by volunteer doctors from the V. Luna Medical Center, Philippine Heart Center and Saint Luke's Hospital. Angeles University Foundation nursing graduates also participated in the event.
Vice Mayor Diman Datu said the beneficiaries are mostly from this town and former residents in resettlement centers in Madapdap and Bulaon.
The Rotary provided the logistics and the manpower to search and provide medical support for the said indigents.
Datu said ABS-CBN Foundation, the main advocate of the program, has been doing the same medical operations through its "Ang Bayan Ni Juan" program.
"We hope to see more Bacolorenos needing medical help to come today (Sunday) here in Calibutbut to avail of the free medical and surgical operations that various organizations have set-up for them," Datu said. (IOF)
