MORE than 50 young boys from Barangay Tejero, Cebu City, were circumcised for free during the annual Operation Tuli on Monday, July 10, 2023, at Tejero Sports Complex.
The expected target for the operation is 100 children, in which boys ages seven years old and above are welcome as long as the child is willing to be circumcised.
Maria Luise Gonide, a barangay health worker, said the program started at 8 a.m. Monday and it will run until 5 p.m. on a first come, first served basis.
She said the patients will be given a doctor's prescription and medicine for free after the child’s operation.
“Hatagan ni sila og resita ug tambal, dayon tagaan na sila og instructions unsaon pagpa-inom,” she said.
(They will be given a prescription and medicine, then they will be given instructions on how to drink it.)
In case the wound would be infected, they can still consult the doctor every Tuesday, she added.
Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) Chairperson Jonathan Marasigan said the main objective of the operation is to prevent infection.
“Support ra jud mi, labi na sa mga bata kay para kini sa ilang kalusugan,” he said.
(We support it, especially for children, because it is for their health.)
A parent, who asked not be named, shared her sentiments on the event, “Nalipay ko kay wala nako’y gastohan.”
“Kulbaan ko pero gi assured ko nila kuya (health workers) na dili ra ni sakit. Aron sad na malalaki nako,” said an eight-year-old kid.
(I am really nervous but the health workers assured me that it wouldn’t be painful, so that I’ll be a fully grown man.)
Earlier Monday, the City Health workers also conducted dental check-ups and taught children on how to brush their teeth two to three times a day.
The Operation Tuli was purely funded by the Cebu City Government. (Judie Liza Alantoson, CNU Intern)