First PAMA “Balikbayan” Medical Mission held at Polillo, Quezon
By Dr. Grace Maano
In the spirit of “giving service back to your own country”… the first-ever medical mission from ‘down under’ was held on April 6-9, 2008 at Polillo Medicare Hospital which is a 10-bed infirmary level facility at Polillo Island in Quezon Province, Philippines.
Representing the Philippine Australian Medical Association (PAMA) are Project Coordinator Dr. Grace Maano (Obs & Gyn Resident), Dr. Pat De Leon (GP) and husband Ernie De Leon, and Jacquie Arnold (Australian Nurse) who went to the Philippines from Australia to conduct the Medical Mission in coordination with 22 local volunteer doctors/ dentists and allied health professionals from the organization Ugnayan ng Pahinungod Volunteer Corps based in the University of the Philippines-Manila and Philippine General Hospital headed by Ms. Lourdes dela Rea.
The Medical Mission was able to service about a thousand patients in the 3-day period having done about 500 free medical consultation giving away free medications, 300 dental extractions, 12 major surgical procedures (including 1 cleft palate repair), 76 minor surgeries, 58 circumcisions, 5 tubal ligations and 33 pap’s smears. 120 Barangay Health workers attended the Health Training Education conducted on the 4th day with lectures on Basic Life Support and Obstetric emergencies.
Local government support complemented the funds raised by PAMA under the administration of Past Club Presidents Dr. Joey Languido, Dr. Baby Tamayo and incumbent President Dr. Lorna Benedicto. The Provincial Governor of Quezon (Gov. Rafael Nantes) provided boat transportation of the volunteers from Real Port to Polillo and the Mayor of Polillo (Mayor Isarme Bosque) shouldered the food for all the volunteers during the 4-day mission. The chief of Hospital Dr. Christopher Baylon and the whole staff of Polillo Medicare Hospital were in attendance during the 4-day mission in full support of the project.
In view of the problem of the accessibility and affordability of medical services in this part of the Province, a further project for 2009 was identified: that of upgrading the hospital’s facilities and equipment. Currently, fundraising efforts are directed towards the procurement of an X-ray machine and ECG machine for Polillo Medicare Hospital by April 2009. The Rotary Clubs of Gosford West, Woywoy and Adamstown have all donated part of their club funds towards this end.
