BAGUIO CITY – Screened from more than 200 patients, 91 are expected to be beneficiaries of the ToDOH Alaga, May TSekAP na, May Operasyon Pa, surgical caravan at the Baguio General Hospital and Medical Center and other hospitals in Benguet province.
Up for surgery are cleft palate repair, cataract surgery, tonsillectomy, goiter removal, cholecystectomy, excision of breast and soft tissue mass, circumcision, bilateral tubal ligation and vasectomy, and other minor surgery cases.
The activity, ToDOH Alaga, May TSeKaP (Tamang Serbisyo para sa Kalusugan ng Pamilya) na; was launched last Wednesday at the BGHMC after which procedures will go on until June 27. Teams from BGHMC will visit the Benguet General Hospital, Atok District Hospital and Dennis Molintas hospital on July 3 to 16 for surgical procedures. More complicated cases may be referred to BGHMC or to other hospitals, if needed, it was known.
Present during the launching were Benguet province governor Crescencio Pacalso; BHGMC Chief of Hospital Ricardo Runez; Physicians Clarita Marquez as coordinator of the caravan; Surgeons Gene Estandian and Damaso Bangaoet, Jr.; Relante Raper representing Dr. Maria Imelda Ulep of the Benguet General Hospital; Dr.Tricia Hazelle Pannangwe of the Dennis Molintas hospital in Bokod, Benguet, and Rafael Tallocoy representing Baguio Mayor Mauricio Domogan.
DOH-CAR Chief of the Licensing, Regulations and Enforcement Division Dr. Erwin Baclig in his welcome message said the program is an extension of last year’s Philippine Health Agenda under the Duterte administration. The surgical intervention is an enhancement of service delivery of the local government unit, specially for the “poorest of the poor” as surveyed by authorities. The activity is also sponsored by the Philippine Health Insurance Agency (PhilHealth), considering the less than sufficient funding of P600,000 for the procedures.
As the activity is launched simultaneously nationwide, there are pre- and post-surgical procedures, Dr. Estandian said, such as preparation of the patient and clearances.
Dr. Runez, however, added that additional patients could be accommodated, if they duly qualify as indigents, as screened by the social welfare workers.
Accordingly, BGHMC caters to patients not only from the city and the province of Benguet, but also from Pangasinan and La Union, Nueva Vizcaya, Isabela and other areas; prompting hopes for additional funds from their respective officials. **juliegfianza
