By Rjay Zuriaga Castor
At least 260 individuals in Iloilo underwent free surgical procedures, made possible by the partnership between MORE Electric and Power Corp. (MORE Power), the electric distribution utility of Iloilo City, and the World Surgical Foundation Philippines (WSFP).
The free surgical mission was operated at the Iloilo Provincial Hospital in Pototan town and Western Visayas Medical Center from June 4 to 6.
MORE Power said the initiative delivered around P13 million worth of free, high-quality surgical care to the underserved population of the province and the city.
The mission featured 16 major and 244 minor surgical procedures, significantly improving the quality of life for the recipients. Major surgical procedures performed included Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy, Open Cholecystectomy, Herniorrhaphy/Hernioplasty, Hemorrhoidectomy, and Hydrocelectomy.
Minor surgical procedures primarily consisted of Excisions of Masses and Lipomas and circumcisions.
“Ang pinaka-goal namin is magbigay ng libreng surgical health care for the poor especially dito sa Philippines,” said Dr. Lester Suntay, President and Chief Executive Officer of WSFP.
Suntay said the recent three-day medical mission was the fourth service they offered to residents of Iloilo.
“Ang naging advantage lang nito ngayon, hindi lang purely adults ang ginagawa namin, we also do yung operation para sa mga bata. Ang mga surgeries kasi para sa mga bata, maraming backlogs. Maraming naghihintay na mga pasyente,” she added.
The WSFP chief emphasized that the lack of pediatric surgical specialists pushed WSFP to take on the responsibility of delivering critical surgical services in remote areas.
A total of 289 surgical procedures were conducted across two hospitals in the three-day mission, according to MORE Power.
MORE Power President Roel Z. Castro committed to facilitate more surgical medical missions with the WSFP, to ease the burden of families for its hefty cost which ranged between P300,000-400,000 per patient.
The success of the medical mission was also made possible by over 100 volunteer doctors from the Philippine Society of General Surgeons, Philippine College of Surgeons, Philippine Society of Anesthesiologists Doctors, and Operating Room Nurses Association of the Philippines, Inc.
