April 13 to 16 2009 – Candon City

Medical, Dental & Minor Surgical Mission

April 13 to 16 2009 – Candon City

The Joint Community Services Medical Mission (JCSMM) Team headed by Vice Governor Jerry C. Singson (JCS) conducted on April 13-16, 2009 a major and minor surgical mission at the Candon City General Hospital in Candon City.

On April 13, 2009, Vice Governor JCS left Vigan at dawn to meet the delegates of the S.C.O.R.E. (Special Commission on Relief and Education) Group of the Filipino Association of Toledo, Ohio composed of the Chairman - Dr. Antonio Paat; the Medical Mission Chairman - Dr. Stephen Philip Camacho; Dr. Joseph Cordero; Dr. Jim Ganaon; Dr. Erie Laplano; Dentist Dr. Irma Camacho Narciso; Dr. Jessie Paat; Dr. Richard Paat; Dr. Ma. Victoria Portubal; Board Members – Mr. Denny Bensch, Mr. Abe Camacho, Engrs. Fred Hernachi, John Paat and Kim Pham; and Registered Nurse Nicholas Paat. They were billeted at the Candon Beach Resort, Darapidap, Candon City.

The Toledo Ohio Medical Group still had to conduct medical check-up of patients who were not screened last March 14, 2009. Hundreds of mostly indigent patients came from remote barangays and were given free medicines after undergoing medical check-up. The first day treated 31 patients for minor surgery and 11 patients for major surgery. On April 14, there were 52 minor surgery patients and 16 major surgery beneficiaries. On April 15, 63 benefited from free minor surgery, 24 from free major surgery, and 35 ophthalmology patients.

Congressman Eric Singson and former Congresswoman Grace Singson were joined by their son, Candon City Mayor Allen Singson, in hosting lunch for the medical mission delegation at the Business Office Room.

Simultaneous to the mission in Candon City, Vice Governor JCS led the S.C.O.R.E. Ohio’s Jun Calinag, Joseph Cordero and other delegates and volunteers on board the R.A. 7171 aircon bus for a mission in the upland municipality of Galimuyod, Ilocos Sur on April 14, 2009. They were welcomed at 8:30 a.m. by Mayor Jessie Balingsat and other municipal government officials, barangay health workers and barangay nutrition scholars who have already started the registration of patients.

A total of 1,568 patients benefited from this mission broken down into 348 for pediatrics, 750 medical, 150 dental, 19 excission, 40 circumcision and 274 free reading glasses. The humanitarian service was completed at 5:00 p.m. and the JCSMM Team returned to Candon.

Hitting another proverbial “two birds with one stone” by the JCS MM and S.C.O.R.E. –Ohio delegation was done on April 15, 2009 in the upland municipality of San Emilio, Ilocos Sur where they were welcomed at 8:30 a.m. by Mayor Lorenzo Bragado and other local government officials together with Dr. Shirley Luna and the barangay health workers and barangay nutrition scholars who assisted in the registration of patients.

Doctors and dentists who joined the humanitarian service came from Narvacan and Sta. Lucia: Dr. Luis Buendia; Dr. Efren Cabanit; Dr. Eliza Gamido; Dr. Charlie Ingusan; Dr. Aida Labres; Dr. Melanie Manuel; Dr. Irma Camacho Narciso; Dr. Rafael de la Peña; Dr. Benjamin Rabara; Dr. Flordeliza de Vega; and Dr. Jennifer Zamora. Volunteer nurses from Gabriela Silang General Hospital in Vigan also joined the mission, such as Mrs. Lita Alvis – Nurse II.

A total of 1,315 beneficiaries were served and broken down into 412 for pediatrics, 453 adults, 53 dental patients, 357 for ophthalmology, 9 for circumcision and 31 for fasting blood sugar. There were also 214 patients who received free reading glasses.

Mayor Lorenzo Bragado gave tapuey rice wine as compliments which the S.C.O.R.E.-Ohio delegates tasted for the first time. They returned to the Candon Beach Resort at 4:30 p.m.

On April 16, 2009, Vice Governor JCS led another medical mission to the upland municipality of Lidlidda, Ilocos Sur with the JCSMM Team and S.C.O.R.E.-Ohio delegates who immediately prepared the surgical room for minor surgery cases. The Municipal Health Officer, Dr. Henedina Pascua, assisted and supervised the registration of patients by the Barangay Health Workers and Barangay Nutrition Scholars.

Also joining the JCSMM Team were Dr. Eugene Dauz (Tagudin General Hospital Chief) and Dr. Federico Anaen (Salcedo Medicare Community Hospital). Also from Tagudin and Sta. Lucia were Dentist Dr. Efren Cabanit; Dr. Jesus Duran; Dr. Eliza Gamido; Dr. Charlie Ingusan; Dr. Aida Llabres; Dr. Ruperto Pagel; Dr. Rafael de la Peña; Dr. Hubert Santiago; and Dr. Jennifer Zamora. San Emilio Municipal Health Officer, Dr. Shirley Luna, also came from her upland municipality to serve the mostly indigent beneficiaries.

Lidlidda Mayor Jesus Sagay hosted the snacks and lunch. By 4:00 p.m., a total of 1,234 patients benefited from this medical mission broken down into 430 medical, 263 dental, 242 ophthalmology, 33 circumcision, 16 excission, 9 referrals for further treatment, and 241 free reading glasses.

The 4-day mission was completed after the closing program and farewell party on April 15, 2009 at the Candon Beach Resort. Due to the rains, the JCSMM Team on board the Toyota Revo of Vice Gov. JCS no longer attended the closing program and proceeded straight to Vigan while the S.C.O.R.E.-Ohio delegates rode the R.A. 7171 aircon bus to Candon.

The final tally of patients served during the 4-day medical mission are the following:

Candon: 146 patients for minor surgery, 51 for major surgery, 70 ophthalmology = 267;

Galimuyod: 348 for pediatrics, 750 medical, 150 dental, 19 excission, 40 circumcision and 274 free reading glasses = 1,568 patients;

San Emilio: were served and broken down into 412 for pediatrics, 453 adults, 53 dental patients, 357 for ophthalmology, 9 for circumcision, 31 for fasting blood sugar and 214 reading glasses = 1,529 beneficiaries;

Lidlidda: 430 medical, 263 dental, 242 ophthalmology, 33 circumcision, 16 excission, 9 referrals for further treatment, and 241 free reading glasses = 1,234.

Overall total: 4,598 patients.