A gift of smile and self-esteem they have long wished “unspoken†is again granted to Boholanos affected by cleft lip and cleft palete.
A major Bohol surgical mission by a United States-based group for these facial and oral malformations is now conducted at the Bohol Family Hospital in Tagbilaran City until Saturday, September 10.
The week-long mission has benefited the children of indigent familiies who have undergone cleft/palate operation for free since Monday, according to Philippine Gift of Life (PGL) President/Chief Executive Officer Fancy Baluyot.
The surgical team is from the JP Clawson Medical Missions Foundation which founder, Dr. Joseph P. Clawson, did come and lead the group.
Among the prominent members of the team are Dr. Martin Muller, Dr. Elisa Burgess, Dr.Tak-Ming Ko, Dr. George Go, Bonnie Hiliard, CRNA, and Elizabeth Wood, RN.
The mission has been fully supported by the Provincial Government of Bohol (PGBh) under Gov. Edgar Chatto and Vice Gov. Dionisio Balite of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP), including the Committee on Health chaired by Board Member Jade Bautista.
The Tagbilaran City government led by Mayor John Geesnell Yap II and Vice Mayor Jose Antonio Veloso has likewise supported the mission.
As in the past laudable Clawson works here, the Borjal Family Hospital has hosted the on-going mission thru the kindness of hospital medical director Dr. Melinda Borja and administrator Dr. Pepe Borja.
The mission has further been extended support by the Department of Health under Sec. Paulyn Jean Rosell-Ubial and Usec. Elmer Punzalan, Bohol Medical Society thru its president, Dr. Kazan Baluyot, Â and Rotary Club of Tagbilaran under Tony Maquindang as president.
Patients underwent final screening last Sunday after meeting with their foreign benefactors led by Dr. Clawson, PGL officers headed by Baluyot, and Chatto, who is also the PGL adviser, at the Governor’s Mansion.
A recognition-thanksgiving party will be tendered to the Clawson team and local partners and volunteers at the JJ’s Seafood Village on Friday, September 9, before the foreign group’s return to the US on the next day. (Zjem Kisha Rasonabe Arigo)