Medical Surgical Mission in Western Pangasinan District Hospital starts January 29

The Philippine Minnesotan Medical Association (PMMA) will conduct a medical surgical mission at the Western Pangasinan District Hospital from January 28 to February 4, 2012 upon invitation of the Rotary Club of Hundred Islands duringPMMA’s first medical mission in Alaminos City in 2004.

The PMMA medical team is composed of seventy (75) doctors and nurses.  Special Permits for Temporary Practice of the doctors and nurses from the Professional Regulations Commission were procured after favorable endorsements from the Philippine Medical Association and the Philippine Nurses Association. 

The PMMA medical team aims to alleviate the suffering from ailments of Pangasinenses who could not afford hare lip or cleft palate operation, hand deformities, goiter or thyroid problems, mayoma and other gynecological problems.

The medical mission was accepted by Governor Amado T. Espino, Jr. on September 8, 2011 through a letter addressed to Dr. Bernard R. Quebral, Mission Coordinator.  Upon notice of acceptance, the PMMA Mission Coordinator made representations with the Philippine Consul in Chicago for the processing of the documents needed for immediate transport of the medical equipment and supplies.

According to the head of the Medical –Surgical Mission, the estimated cost of the medical equipment and supplies would amount US$1.1 million based on values provided by the Hope of the City, a non-government organization in the State of Minnesota which collects medical equipments and supplies from various donors in America for donation to less developed countries.

The medical equipment and supplies in two (2) forty-foot container vans arrived at the Port of Manila last November 19, 2011 and was cleared for release after the duties and taxes amounting to P93,000.00 were paid through the assistance of the Ben Sayaco Customs Brokerage Firm.  The estimated cost of transporting the two (2) container vans is P78,000.00 but was transported to Alaminos City on December 12, 2011 by two (2) trailer trucks of the MOF (Subic) Transport Company, Inc. free of charge.

The cargo are stored in a warehouse with a discounted rent through the participation of the Rotary Club of Dasol Bay.  The Rotaract Club of PASS College is coordinating with RCHi for the information dissemination for the medical mission.  The Philippine Red Cross – Alaminos City Western Pangasinan Chapter will give its support for blood supply during the surgical operations and the assistance of volunteers of the out-patient consultations.

The First Congressional District Office through Congressman Jesus “Boying” F. Celeste will shoulder the hotel accommodation and breakfast of the PMMA delegates during the one-week medical mission.  The cooperation of the Mayors in the ten (10) towns and city of the first district will be tapped to bring patients on scheduled dates and to sponsor a dinner for the medical team.

The local mission coordinator seeks the kind heart of sponsors of the step-down transformers for the medical equipment to be used during the medical-surgical mission and for other related expenses during the mission.

The PMMA will donate the medical equipment to the Western Pangasinan District Hospital after the medical surgical mission.