The members of the SPSA Medical Mission, with the Philippine Airline jet at the backdrop, are shown above on December 1, 2008, when they arrived for their 5-day stint at the Northern Mindanao Regional Hospital in Cagayan de Oro. The picture below shows the team with some medical supplies.
Greetings!
The 2008 Society of Philippine Surgeons in America surgical mission was held in Cagayan de Oro City, Misamis Oriental, Philippines on December 1-6. The venue was the Northern Mindanao Medical Center and was sponsored by Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri, Majority Floor Leader of the Philippine Senate.
A total of 360 surgical procedures were performed consisting of 96 major procedures, 198 minor procedures, 11 plastic surgeries, 4 VP shunts and 52 eye surgeries. There were 115 eye consultations done also. Intraocular lenses and supplies were given to the local Ophthalmologists for 20 cataract extractions to be done at a later date.
Headed by SPSA President Rey Lee Llacer and mission team leaders Manny Cacdac and Pacing Dorado, the team of 52 volunteers from the US, Canada and the Philippines consisted of 11 general surgeons, 2 neurosurgeons, 1 orthopedic surgeon, 2 plastic surgeons, 5 opthalmologists, 3 eye nurses/technicians, 4 internists, 1 gastro-interologist, 1 intensivist and 5 anesthesiologists and 1 CRNA assisted by 9 local anesthesia residents physicians. The rest were nurses and lay volunteers.
The team arrived on December 1, screened patients, opened and organized 48 boxes of medical supplies and equipment previously sent by the Society. A few minor procedures were performed in the afternoon. Major and minor procedures were done on December 2-5.
An appreciation dinner and going-away party was tendered by Congressman Rufus Rodriguez and Senator Zubiri for the group on December 5 but some members were not able to attend as surgeries were performed until midnight that day.
The following day was spent for R & R - majority of the group went to Camiguin Island, the younger members went river rafting and a group went to the Del Monte Plantation in Bukidnon. A group headed by Dr. Dorado went to Butuan City to meet with local officials as a possible venue of a future surgical mission. The team returned to Manila on December 7. In addition, another 4 VP shunts were done at the Jose Reyes Memorial Hospital and 8 VP shunts left to be used for the rest of the patients that were not done for lack of time and operating rooms. These surgeries will be performed by their Neusurgical staff and residents. This project is made possible by SM Foundation and Kapwa Ko Mahal Ko Foundation.
The success of the 2008 mission was made possible by the nursing staff and the medical staff and volunteers of the Northern Mindanao Medical Center, headed by Dr. Ram Moreno, Dr. Peter Quiaoit and Dr. John Chan.
The SPSA acknowledges and appreciates the efficient and effective coordination by the executive staff of Senator Zubiri’s office. The Society hopes to be given another opportunity to help the poor and indigent people of Northern Mindanao.
On behalf of the SPSA, we extend our thanks and gratitude to all the members of the surgical mission; the donors of supplies, medications and equipment namely; Alcon, Medtronix, Integra Life Sciences, MAP Int., Ethicon, Americares and to our good friends David and Sara Hughes, who's kind donation paid for most of the expenses incurred during the surgical mission. We hope your New Year will be blessed.
Manny Cacdac
Pacing Dorado