A TOTAL of 118 patients underwent minor and major operations during the free surgical mission initiated by the Duterte Cabinet Spouses Foundation Inc. (DCSFI) and World Surgical Foundation in Catbalogan City, Samar on June 27-28, 2019.
The Office of the Presidential Assistant for the Visayas (Opav) coordinated with the DCSFI and different government agencies to make the surgical mission possible.
Among the Cabinet spouses who exerted their efforts to make the activity a success were Kristine Marie Dino, wife of Opav Secretary Michael Dino; Jean Año, wife of Interior Secretary Eduardo Año; Alelee Andanar, wife of Presidential Communications Secretary Martin Andanar; Ferry Lou Cui, wife of Presidential Management Staff acting head Ferdinand Cui Jr.; Jo Ann Camacho, wife of BSP Governor Benjamin Diokno; Betty Mediadelia, wife of Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea; Araceli Panelo, wife of Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panel; and Maria Margarita Nograles, wife of Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles.
The surgical mission was also done in partnership with the 8th Infantry Division of the Philippine Army, GMA 7, Presidential Management Staff, Department of Health, Department of Social Welfare and Development and Department of the Interior and Local Government.
Eighty patients underwent minor operations, while 38 patients underwent major operations. The surgeries included the operation and correction of malformation and birth defects, cleft lip and cleft palate, kids’ hernia, undescended testicles, imperforate anus, Hirschsprung’s disease, thyroid abnormality, cystic fibroma, lumps and bumps, myoma and breast mass.
Prior to the actual operations, patients were assessed to determine if they were fit to avail themselves of the services of the doctors, who were flown in Samar for the mission.
The Cabinet spouses also distributed toys to the kids and hygiene kits to the patients before their operations. (S)