MikeLigalig.com

By JUNE S. BLANCO
 
At least 25 more patients with heart defects from Bohol and the rest of the country can now dream – nay, live – normal lives.

This after Director Philip Lu of the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (PAGCOR) committed to Gov. Erico Aumentado P2 million in corporate funds as financial assistance for the conduct of open-heart surgeries at the Gov. Celestino Gallares Memorial Hospital (GCGMH) in Tagbilaran City on July 21-28.

Drs. Santos Jose Abad, chief cardiologist and Florante Lomibao, chief thoracic cardiovascular surgeon, team leaders, flew in yesterday to personally evaluate the conditions of 67 prospective patients at the Governor’s Mansion, and to familiarize themselves with the operating rooms and equipment at the GCGMH as well as ensure that minimum sanitation requirements are met or even improved.

All the patients, aged three months to 67 years, have submitted to the Philippine Heart Center (PHC) their two-dimensional (2D) echo acetates, electro-cardiogram (ECG) tracing reports and, except those under two years old, HIV 1 and 2, hepatitis B and C, dental examination and chest x-ray results. Three weeks to go before the surgeries however, the PHC surgeons requested for updated ECGs and chest x-rays as well as complete blood count (CBC) and blood typing results.

However, only mitral valve replacements and the treatment of other “minor” defects will be performed at the GCGMH. Complicated cases will be referred to PHC.

In a letter to Aumentado, Francisca Baluyot, his consultant on health and social services and president and chief executive officer of the Philippine Gift of Life who is coordinating the surgeries said a Philippine Air Force (PAF) C-130 plane will bring the surgery equipment from the PHC to Bohol and back on July 20 and 29 respectively.

The scheduled surgeries is the 3rd biggest conducted outside of the PHC and Metro Manila – all done in Bohol . It is a major activity lined up to celebrate July as the Sandugo month, and July 22 as the 153rd Bohol Day.

For the mission, Aumentado and Baluyot thank Dr. Ludgerio Torres, PHC director, and Dr. Francisco Dizon, president of the Heart Foundation of the Philippines (HFP) for bringing the team anew to Bohol; Dr. Nenita Moraga-Po, chief of the GCGMH for the use of the operating and recovery rooms, the provincial government for sponsoring the activity, PAGCOR through its chair and CEO Efraim Genuino for the funds;
Rev. Fr. Victor Bompat, GOL vice chair; HomeReach Foundation through Drs. Teofilo Recitas and Ramie Cadag, its New York-based chair and co-chair and Richard Uy, Bohol-based director; the Hildegardeans ’89 headed by Joseph Alagon; Reps. Edgar Chatto, Roberto Cajes and Adam Jala.

The Department of Health under Sec. Francisco Duque III; the Philippine Academy of Medical Specialists (PAMS) through its president Dr. Rene Catan and Dr. Federico Malubay, chair for outreach programs; PAMS-Bohol president Dr. Herbert Relampagos and the Tagbilaran City Host Lions Club headed by Dr. Eufemia Cabagnot.

Each operation including medicines could cost a heart patient almost P1 million. As things are, because of the assistance and services of the sponsors, the operations are done on selected qualified patients for free.                           

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