BORONGAN CITY– Over a thousand Estehanons have availed of the medical services provided by the Bulig Kablas Medical Mission (BKMM) conducted on January 30-February 9, at the Eastern Samar Provincial Hospital (ESPH), this city.
According to ESPH chief, Dr. Jessica Sabalberino, for the 17th medical mission this year, the team from Joliet, Illinois, USA composed of 48 EENT specialists, obstetrics gynecologist (OB-Gyne), surgeons, neurologists, internal medicines, anesthesiologists, and pediatricians, came to render free services.
Some 20 doctors from the Eastern Visayas Regional Medical Center (EVMRC) in Tacloban City also joined the said medical mission.
Another team from ESPH, the doctors from five (5) Inter Local Health Zone (ILHZ), served as augmentation force composed of 100 doctors, nursing staff, and administration staff.
Sabalberino disclosed that 295 patients availed of the services for major operations on gall stones, goiter, hernia, and ovarian cysts, while the services offered for minor operations include cataract, lip repair and palate, and appendicitis.
Meanwhile, a total of 1,195 outpatients were served on prescription of medicines while 355 outpatients availed of free consultations with free medicines.
Sabalberino emphasized that during the BKMM, all patients underwent screening and cardio-pulmonary clearance before operation.
“For those patients who have undergone operation, they followed the international standard of surgical cases, that they should undergo the Reverse Transcription – Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) test. Also, the health workers who are symptomatic specially the Health Care Workers have undergone the Antigen Test,” Dr. Sabalberino said.
Sabalberino emphasized that the effort was realized to ensure that the poor and the needy will be given access to free surgical and medical services.
The Provincial Government of Eastern Samar, through the leadership of Gov. Ben P. Evardone, has also allocated P3-M for the said activity.
BKMM, which started in 2004, is a tripartite initiative of the Diocese of Juliet, Illinois, USA; the Diocese of Borongan; and the Provincial Government of Eastern Samar.
(MMP/SDC/PIA E. Samar)
