MikeLigalig.com

By Engineer Jes Tirol
Columnist
The Bohol Chronicle

Proem

Everyone has a dream and there are those who dream to serve the people. The Monday Club of Bohol Island and APPO has just completed a Medical Mission in Tagbilaran City and Loon, Bohol from January 30 to February 3, 2006.

APPO

APPO is the acronym of Association of Philippine Physicians of Ohio (USA). Majority of the members are Filipinos who are medical practitioners in Ohio, USA but some are Americans and of other nationalities. Every year for the past 25 years, the APPO conducts a medical mission in the Philippines. This year their President is Dr. German Neri Jr. who hails from Tagbilaran City and his mother is from Loon, Bohol.

As President he has the authority to select the place for the medical mission. So Dr. Neri selected Tagbilaran and Loon. He made the choice in order to fulfill his dream of giving back something to his people a portion of God's blessings.

The Preparations

February, last year (2005) a representative of the APPO attended a regular meeting of the Monday Club of Bohol Island. The APPO was looking for a counterpart organization to coordinate the planned medical mission. The officers and members of the club accepted the challenge. When the challenge was accepted, the APPO sent later on another group to finalize the plans.

The Set Up

The members of APPO do not come from one place. They come from Ohio and other places in the USA and the Philippines. Actually they will be gathered for the first time here in Tagbilaran. The common bond of love and service to fellowmen is what connects these medical practitioners (doctors, nurses, medical technologist, volunteers, etc.)

The Monday Club of Bohol Island is similarly situated. It is a group of men who gathers together every Monday Evening looking for a way to serve their fellowmen.

The agreement was finalized. The Monday Club realized that funds must be raised to achieve our goal. The President, Dondon Suganob was energetic in raising funds that there came a time when the Monday Club was labeled as a bunch of unreliable people.

In his eagerness, Dondon Suganob went to the United States to coordinate with APPO and raise funds, not realizing that it would be difficult for him to come back on time for the medical mission. However, you could not put down a group that is bonded together with the love of service to fellowmen. Mr. Rodney Lumuthang accepted the challenge to lead the Monday Club.

Preparations continued, coordinations were made with APPO, the City Government, the Gallares Memorial Hospital, the Bohol Medical Society, and the University of Bohol. Medicines were sent months in advance of the actual mission.

The Missionaries

The Missionaries or members of the medical mission will pay all their expenses including their travel and stay in Tagbilaran City. They will provide free medicines, free surgical supplies, bring their necessary equipment and donate that equipment that they do not need to bring back. But of course, they brought with them their expertise in treating patients, and their inner desire to help alleviate sufferings.

The Medical Mission

The APPO medical mission was announced. A pre-screening of prospective patients were screened by the City Health Department, the Bohol Medical Society, and the Gallares Memorial Hospital. The pre-screening team was wary to accept many patients because it was not known how many doctors would come.

January 28, 2006 an advance group of APPO members arrived in Tagbilaran City. The next day the main group arrived. In all, 106 missionaries arrived with 60 physicians of different specialties.

Monday, January 30, the medical mission started treating patients. The venue of the surgical team was the Celestino Gallares Memorial Hospital. Our coordinator was Mr. Marjun Lumayag, the proprietor of BMC Lending.

The venue of the medical team was the University of Bohol Gym with Engr. Francisco Pamaran Jr. as our coordinator.

Late Monday morning the APPO missionaries were complaining, there were too few patients. The Honorable City Mayor Dan Neri Lim announced over the radio that patients were needed. Patients came and at the end of the day the quota was achieved.

By the end of Thursday afternoon, the APPO medical mission treated 2,843 patients complete with medicines for a full treatment. The APPO surgical group treated 175 different major surgical cases.

On Friday, February 03, 2006 the APPO mission went to Loon, Bohol. The venue was the Natalio Castillo Memorial Hospital. Ninety (90) surgical operations were performed and 1,150 medical patients were attended to.

The Cost?

For the local counterpart, we also spent something. If we put a cost to labor, equipment, facilities, etc. maybe the costing can be estimated to a little over one million pesos.

However, if we put a cost to the benefits, here is the estimate: The present consultation fee for a doctor is P300. Multiply it with 3,993 patients, it will amount to P11,979,000. Assuming that each patient was given P300 worth of medicine, it will amount to another P11,979,000.

The 265 major surgical operations are difficult to estimate. How much will you pay for a Menindioma or hernia of the brain of a two (2) day old baby? The surgeons led by Doctors Damian, Tabura, and Reyes patched up the hole in the brain. To top it all, the APPO mission paid P15,000 for the hunt to cover the hole. Doctor Phil Jones is the top plastic surgeon in Cleveland, Ohio, how much would it cost to have a complete harelip operation? There were other major surgical cases. One was cancerous and sent to Manila (free fare) with the APPO doctor to follow later to do the operation in Manila. If we put the average cost of surgery at P30,000 (this is low for expert American surgeons) the 265 cases will amount to P7,900,000. How about the auxiliaries who donated to the Sunshine Home and Crisis Center?

If we put a money value to the APPO Medical Mission, the low estimate will be P31,858,000.

At The End of Day

The Medical Mission is not about money but the fulfillment of a dream to serve other people. The APPO Medical Mission members have the euphoric feeling of fulfillment for a chance to serve his fellowmen. At least they can assuage their conscience for a job well done to treat; to cure, or just ease the suffering of their fellowmen.

The local officials, doctors, and other personnel can say to all and sundry that they were there to help when they were needed by the people.

The other members of the Monday Club who were there to do the thousand and one chores: this writer; Rev. Jun Esmero, our Secretary; Rev. Nemie Carbonilla; Bishop Arnold Corsiga; Bert Biloy, our Treasurer who also donated his Maxi Pure drinking water; Eric Matig-a; Oreste Borja; Jun Sale; Romeo Goloso; and those members who were with us in their prayers.

Let us congratulate everybody for a job well done!

--published in February 2006

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