THIRTY-FIVE indigent patients from the Visayas and Mindanao areas underwent free cleft and palate surgeries from the OVY Educational and Healthcare Foundation Inc. at the Negros Oriental Provincial Hospital in Dumaguete City recently.
Jade Marquez-Seballos, media relations head of Vallacar Transit Inc., said a total of 50 patients were screened for this year’s mission sponsored annually by the matriarch of the Yanson family, Olivia Villaflores-Yanson, a nurse by profession and an alumna of Silliman University.
The OVY Foundation five-day activity, in partnership with Dr. Laurence Loh and Dr. Ross Realica of the Philippine Association of Plastic Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgeons, was also supported by the Negros Oriental Provincial Government, Provincial Health Office and the Negros Oriental Provincial Hospital.
Marquez-Seballos all cleft and palate surgical procedures were given free by the Foundation and recipients were also provided free transportation, meal allowances and free medicines.
Of the 50 patients, only 35 passed the screening because the rest have either cough or fever and cannot undergo procedures.
The beneficiaries age five months to 46 years old.
Families of recipients were thankful to the Yanson matriarch for the annual medical mission, considering that on their own, they cannot afford to pay for reconstructive surgery as this would cost between P150,000 to P180,000 per procedure, she added. (PR)