MANILA — By any standard, the “Alaga at Tulong Tomasino 4.0” was a medical-surgical-dental mission of grand proportions, gathering various organizations and foundations, which included CFC ANCOP, to offer thousands of patients free services from January 22 to 24.
Over-all, CFC leader and UST Medical School alumna Dr. Yamamoto, who tapped CFC ANCOP to be part of the medical mission, said she is happy with how the medical mission turned out, saying, “It was very good..They say that in terms of statistics…we had more patients. We have exceeded the [turnout] of the previous years.”
She also noted how aligned the event was with the community’s mission.
“Part of our mission is to heal the sick, extend the medical help to those most in need and the communities where ANCOP villages are present and in communities also where CFC is present, and there are doctors and nurses who can volunteer for the medical mission,” explained Dr. Yamamoto, whose fellow UST Medical School batch ’73 graduates sponsored this year’s medical mission.
Many firsts
She was also particularly happy that for the first time, the annual medical mission spearheaded by the UST Medical Alumni Association in America, in collaboration with the UST Medical Alumni Association of the Philippines, could offer free ECGs, X-rays, and ultrasound services, thanks to CFC ANCOP’s mobile clinic.
Meanwhile, Dr. Marcellus Ramirez, one of the doctors who participated in the mission and Dr. Yamamoto’s friend, was quick to note that the event was more than just a regular medical mission.
“[I]t is a story of unity, generosity, and unwavering commitment to the dignity of every human life. And in every heart it touched, its legacy continues to beat,” he said in a Facebook post.
Held at the Practice Gym of the University of Santo Tomas (UST) along España Boulevard, Manila, CFC ANCOP’s mobile clinic alone was able to serve the following:
- ECG Test: 309 patients
- Ultrasound: 65 patients
- X-Ray: 169 patients
According to CFC ANCOP Health Program Coordinator Jam Rubillos, it was amazing to notice that quite a few patients got their ECG and X-ray tests for the first time, thanks to the medical mission.
She also noted that the presence of volunteer medical doctors on-site spelled a big difference.
“Praise God for volunteer cardiologists and radiologists kasi nababasa agad nila ‘yung results ng patients (because they can read the patients’ results right away),” Rubillos added.
It was the CFC UAE-sponsored mobile clinic maiden deployment and the first time its ultrasound machine was used.
Thousands served
The medical mission served 2, 251 beneficiaries from Metro Manila and the neighboring provinces of Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna, Rizal, and other areas.
One hundred fifty-six surgeries like lap chole ( laparoscopic cholecystectomy), cataract removal, tonsillectomies, etc. were successfully done.
The following institutions and groups also supported the said medical mission:
- UST Hospital
- UST Faculty of Medicine and Surgery
- UST Medical Alumni Association, Inc. (Philippines)
- UST Medical Mission, Inc.
- ANARGYROI Foundation
- Catholic Physicians Guild of the Philippines
- Santissimo Rosario Parish
- Pax Romana Alumni Association
- Aruga at Kalinga ng Tomasino (AKTO)
- Dr. George Co, Sr. Foundation, Inc.
- Mercury Drug Foundation
- Dr. Ferdie and Evelyn Ramos
- Dr. Johnny Cu (Titans USA)
- DZRH radio station
Dr. Yamamoto said CFC ANCOP’s mobile clinics open up great opportunities for the community to more people.
She said, “These mobile clinics were donated to us. We should really put them to good use [by providing] the medical help that we can give to our less fortunate and indigent patients. We have to really advertise it and to extend the invitation to our CFC doctors to join when these missions are organized.”
