CMM
2000
The Carolina Medical Mission completed a successful medical
and surgical mission in towns of Zambales, Pangasinan,
Nueja Ecija, Bulacan, and Mindoro.  Nearly
6,000 patients received free medical care. CMM provided cataract
surgery, dentistry, family medicine, and general surgery.
Patients were able to get medication and vitamins at the makeshift
pharmacy set up at the CMM free clinic. The mission's success
was due to the hard work of its forty plus volunteers. The
crowds at the free clinics were overwhelming. The volunteers
were patient and gave each patient the best care possible.
Once again, the Filipino people were grateful for the medical
attention given by the Carolina Medical Mission.
ANTI-TB PROGRAM
One of the special projects of this year's mission was the
Anti-TB program. With the rise in Tuberculosis cases,
CMM instituted a Anti-TB program for CMM 2000. Diagnosed patients
were given a six month regimen of Anti-TB medication.
A VISIT FROM A FISHERMAN
Wheeled into the operating room with gangrenous foot.
A fisherman by trade, he told the doctors that his foot was
pierced by the sharp whiske of the catfish. It got infected.
Amputation was adviced but the CMM surgeon disagreed.
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August 1999
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Instead,
the CMM team meticulously cleaned and dressed the wound, and
gave medications [injectable antibiotics(Rocephin)]. Additional
medicine (antibiotics & pain relievers)) were left for the
attending nurse to administer to this patient. On the first
day of the Hagonoy surgical mission the OR air conditioner
broke. They had to postpone surgery because of the intolerable
heat in the OR. When the exhausted and upset workers retumed
to their lodging (hospital conference room), a healthy-looking
young man was waiting for the CMM surgeon. He identified himself
as that August patient, showed his completely healed foot
and thanked the doctor for saving his foot. God's timing was
perfect. Just when the CMM workers felt discouraged by the
inadequate facility and were almost ready to give up the day's
surgery, then came our visitor with his good news. It was
a very touching moment. !. Literally, in seconds, everyone
regained their composure and got energized. Event such as
this makes a mission worthwhile. He showed his gratefulness
by sharing the fruit of his labor- a bucketful of stone crabs
(Alimango), Bangus fish and miniature crab (talangka). . We
are humbled. We are grateful to this young man for sharing
his good news -that his foot has healed, he can walk again
and he is the bread-winner again! What a great 'boost" to
the volunteer.
Other Missions 2000
Surgical Mission Benefits Hagonoy, Bulacan
May 2000
In response to a personal invitation by Senate President Protempore
Blas Ople, the CMM Surgical Team conducted a three day (May 28-30)
cataract and general surgery mission in his hometown of Hagonoy,
Bulacan.
CMM volunteer ophthalmologist, Michael Sison performed
cataract surgery on the first day. In the past two months, Dr.
Sison has provided 120 indigent patients with eye surgery/lens
implants. His supplies were donated to CMM by SEE International
and Alcon.
The General Surgery Team was aided by Benjie Tang, M.D.,
a consultant at Chinese General Hospital. He did patient prescreening
weeks before the scheduled mission. The surgeons performed twenty-seven
major and over fifty minor cases. The surgeons included Fred
Ng, Benjamin Yu, Tony Ng, Raymond Belmonte, Benjie Tang, Fe Reoyan,
Raymond Aniag and Emmanuel Esensio. Dermatolgist Resa Belmonte
helped with minor cases. The surgical team's Anesthesiologists
were Drs. Nimfa Yu, Ferdie Lacuron and Al Bacolod. The
OR was kept busy from 8:00am to 10:00pm. The OR was kept organized
and functioning by our volunteer nurses, Eden Olarte-Mina,
Rudy Sicap, Jenny Talavera, and Marites Sebastian. Patients
got their prescriptions (including oral & IV antibiotics)
filled free of charge. Adi Yu helped with the CMM makeshift pharmacy.
CMM would like to thank Mayor and Mrs. Felix "Toti"
Ople, his staff, and outreach coordinator Medy Aguilar
for their great hospitality; Dr Raymond Aniag, chief of
Perez District Hospital for the use of the facilities and also
for assisting in surgery; Dr. Fe Reoyan, Dr. Al Bacolod, and
OR nurse Glessie Perez for their dedication and stamina in
working 12 hours each day with the CMM volunteers.
BITTER SWEET MEMORIES
OF HAGONOY MEDICAL MISSION
Fred T. Ng, M.D.
CMM Volunteer, General Surgery
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