A PRIVATE organization promoting scoliosis awareness in the country revealed that there are estimated 720,000 scoliosis patients in Mindanao who need to undergo full surgery.
Scoliosis Philippines founder Amanda Bonife-Kiamko said the data was based from the Scoliosis Research Society wherein three percent of the total population of the island are affected by this disorder.
According to American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS), scoliosis is an abnormal lateral curvature of the spine. It is most often diagnosed in childhood or early adolescence.
Bonife-Kiamko said the disorder is common to adolescents ages 10 to 15 years old, and delaying its operation might shorten the life span of the patients.
"Sa karon, ang Sciolosis Philippines is pushing for a massive screening, since wala pa gyu'y ana ka massive screening (since there has been no massive screening)," she said Friday, July 26, during the Connect press conference at SM Lanang Premier.
But she said there is still no clear data banking of the total scoliosis patients in Davao Region yet, adding they had been in partnership with Duncan Tree Foundation in providing scoliosis medical mission in the country.
Duncan Tree Foundation president Ouida Duncan said since they started their partnership with Scoliosis Philippines since 2014, they had already done 31 scoliosis surgeries for free.
Duncan said they are prioritizing patients who are marginalized and underprivileged.
"If you do these surgeries in the United States, it would cost you $300,000. And we do it for free," she said.
She also said they are continuously helping indigent patients because they have also been a victim in the society.
"You're gonna be discriminated of this disease which you cannot control. So we wanted to help them because we don't know what these young people are going to grow up," Duncan said, adding that Miss Universe 2018 Catriona Gray is one of the notable scoliosis patients.
She also said there is a need for these patients to be treated also on their emotional and psychological aspect.
Bonife-Kiamko, meanwhile, said that as of June this year, they already received 50 applications. However, they are strictly processing their qualifications for their program.
She said they are happy when President Rodrigo Duterte signed Proclamation 620, declaring the month of June every year as "Scoliosis Awareness Month" to raise awareness on the disorder and promote its early detection.
At present, she said there are three million Filipinos diagnosed with scoliosis and need urgent medical treatment.
Bonife-Kiamko said she is hoping that these patients will also be covered in the benefits of the Universal Health Care Law, as it would be beneficial in covering its medical expenses.