By Ven Arigo
Bohol Chronicle
Exactly 1,505 Boholanos regained clearer vision after undergoing operation during the 2008 Sandugo Surgical-Medical Mission, acclaimed as the second biggest eye operation in the country. The number of patients exceeded the maximum target of 1,000, mostly indigent.
Now reputed as the “Florence Nightingale of Philippine Medical Mission,†Francisca Baluyot thanked volunteers. Basically, she did legwork for the mission.
Baluyot, former Red Cross administrator and presently the president/chief executive officer of the Philippine Gift of Life (PGOL) and provincial government consultant for health and social services, praised the volunteer surgeons and other medical professionals led by Dr. Federico Malubay for the highly successful act of mercy.
If paid, the entire surgical mission could easily value P50 million, a blinding cost for the poor eye patients to pay.
Malubay brought his group of volunteer doctors from the Philippine Academy of Medical Specialists (PAMS).
The humanitarian work was sponsored by the provincial government led by Gov. Erico Aumentado and Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office thru its chairman, Sergio Osmeña Valencia, namesake grandson of the late Cebuano Pres. Sergio Osmena, Sr., and PCSO Visayas-Mindanao Area Supervisor William Medici.
The Malacanang-instituted PGMA Outreach Program supported the mission together with the Philippine Jaycee Senate – Bohol Chapter led by its president, ex-Gov. Rolando Butalid, and vice president, ex-City Mayor Jose Torralba, Department of Health (DOH) thru Sec. Francisco Doque and Asec. Elmer Punzalan, Reps. Edgar Chatto, Roberto Cajes and Adam Relson Jala, Hildegarden ’89 thru president Joseph Alagon, Home Reach Foundation thru chairman Dr. Pepe Recitas, vice chairman Dr. Ramie Cadag and director Richard Uy, and PGOL Board of Directors headed by Fr. Bompat.
The PGMA Outreach Program already initiated or supported many free eye operations in different parts of the country and its three biggest - also the top three Philippine record holders - coincidentally occurred in Bohol in 2006, 2007 and last July 17 to 22.
Last year’s surgical mission had benefited 1,663 patients, gained for Bohol a proud entry into the Guinness Book of World Records as site of the world’s biggest free eye operation.
The youngest eye operation recipient in this year’s mission was a nine-year-old girl while the oldest was a man at 91.
Baluyot sent a letter of gratitude to Pres. Arroyo and her husband, First Gentleman Mike Arroyo for the constant PGMA Outreach Program support.
There were actually 2,902 potential beneficiaries examined but only 1,505 were operated maximizing the period allocated for this year’s Sandugo surgical mission, which coincided with the marking of Bohol’s 154th Foundation Day.
The mission was also supported by the League of Municipalities of the Philippines (LMP) – Bohol Chapter led by Jagna Mayor Exuperio Lloren, Association of Municipal Health Officers of the Philippines (AMHOP) headed in Bohol by Dr. Arnold Cagulada, Provincial Health Office (PHO) which chief is Dr. Reymoses Cabagnot, Bohol Medical Society (BMS) led by Dr. Ria Maslog, nursing schools of the Holy Name University, University of Bohol and Bohol Institute of Technology, Vice Gov. Julius Caesar Herrera, presiding officer of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan, SP health committee chair Board Member Cesar Tomas Lopez and Provincial Administrator Tomas Abapo, Jr.
Baluyot specially thanked Dr. Nenita Po of the Gov. Celestino Gallares Memorial Hospital, site of the surgical-medical mission.
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