Gabriela Silang General Hospital
Vigan City
January 18-21,2012
“We can do no great
things, only small things with great love”. 
This is the inspiration
line embossed in each missionary’s shirt during the Medical, Dental, Optha,
Cataract, Minor and Major Surgical Mission held at Gabriela Silang General
Hospital (GSGH) and simultaneously at the municipalities of Sta. Catalina, San
Esteban, Sta. Maria and the City of Vigan. 
The missionaries of
the Philippine Medical Association in Chicago (PMAC) headed by Dr. Edward
Hernaez has benevolently conducted the 4-day mission in the province of Ilocos
Sur.  Affiliate partners of the PMAC were
the PMAC Foundation, the FEU Medical Alumni Association of Northern Illinois
(FEUMAANI), Provincial Government of Ilocos Sur, JCS Foundation Inc., the
Ephpheta Foundation for the Blind, Local Committee on Sight Preservation
(LCSP), Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Dental Team, UP-PGH and FEU
Medical Teams.
A welcome
dinner-program was prepared by the Provincial Government of Ilocos Sur at the
very accommodating residence of Governor Luis “Chavit” Singson.  It was an acquaintance night followed by a
show of the ever famous “burning bush” of Baluarte where everyone was amazed.
Major operations
were done at the Operating Room of the GSGH. The following were the operations
done: thyroidectomy, hemorrhoidectomy, herniorraphy, cholecystectomy, and
TAHBSO, and uterine myoma.
Minor surgeries were
catered at the OPD where on-the-spot consultation and screening are still being
entertained for qualified patients. Surgeries include mass excision, dermoid
cyst, etc.  Dr. Pablito Barroga of LCSP together
with the Ephpheta Foundation for the Blind served cataract patients during the
mission. 
Mission ended with
an Appreciation Night on January 21, where Lyric Cinema offered its grandeur
conference hall.  It was a memorable
night for everyone where everybody flashed their precious party dresses,
dancing shoes and gadgets. 
The following are
the statistics of patients served during the mission:
            
Major
Operation………..   92
            Minor Operation……….. 134
            Cataract Operation…….. 83
            San Esteban Mission:   813 patients were served in the ff.                             categories:
                        Adult:                   264
                        Dental:                   60
                        Pedia:                  159
                        Reading glass:    277
                        Blood sugar:          44
                        Nutrition:                   9
                                                
            Sta. Maria Mission 
Adult                    437
Dental                  168
Pedia                   312
Refraction/
Opthalmology      176
Reading Glass     500
Blood Sugar           35
Nutrition                    9     
                                              ------------
Total                 1,637
            Sta. Catalina Mission 
Adult                    413
Dental                    93
Pedia                   274
Reading Glass    452
Blood Sugar          23
                           Nutrition             11  
                                                ----------
                        Total           
      1,266
                        
            Vigan City (VCTC) 
Adult                    390
Dental                    48
Pedia                   193
Refraction/
Opthalmology      103
Reading Glass     282
Blood Sugar           28
Nutrition                   7
                        -----------
Total                  1,051