By Nirva Delacruz
MANILA – Organized in a short period of time, a medical – dental mission, which served 607 homeless and EJK family members under the care of Arnold Janssen Kalinga Foundation, as well as local residents, happened earlier today at the Catholic Trade Manila (CTM) Building.
In partnership with Ms. Donita Tapay, the SVD Philippine Central Province – Justice, Peace, and Integrity of Creation, and TruLab, some 60 doctors, which included 12 surgeons, as well as dozens of dentists and medical professionals from Hospital on Wheels were able to complete:
- 199 surgeries (hernia, cleft palate, skin and soft tissue tumors, circumcisions, etc.);
- 175 medical check-ups;
- 101 dental check-ups/tooth extractions;
- 105 vision screening and free reading glasses
- 27 participants for Basic Life Support
‘Just connectors and instruments’
“If our government is not doing this for them, who will do it for them? This should be the start of awareness for the people in the government, [for] the people with the means, that these are the people neglected by society who need serious medical attention. Fighting for their lives is too much already, what more when it comes to medical attention,” explained Tapay in an interview.
She shared the hope that the beneficiaries would recognize that “they are loved by God, that there are people who are doing this for them…We are just connectors and instruments from God.”
Hospital on Wheels stationed a mobile clinic in the CTM compound where major surgeries on medical conditions like hernia, cleft palate, breast tumors, etc. were done.
They are loved by God, that there are people who are doing this for them…We are just connectors and instruments from God.
Where healing comes from
Meanwhile, in his opening message, Hospital on Wheels founder Dr. Jim Sanchez reminded the beneficiaries that healing comes from God. “It is God who will heal you. Tahimik lang kami [during the operations], pero nagdadasal kami (We are just silent during the operations, but we are praying),” he explained.
Aside from the free medicine and vitamins offered, the attendees also listened to free lectures on Basic Life Support/First Aid and financial literacy.
The medical – dental mission, which coincided with the Arnold Janssen Kalinga Center (AJKC)’s feeding day, had dental procedures and minor surgeries at the Espiritu Santo Parochial School across the street. Some 80 volunteers from TruLab assisted the patients after registration.
More to come
For AJKC Program Director Lita Galano, the medical – dental mission will definitely not be the last. “It was tiring but fulfilling. We were able to help a lot of people and coordination with the other volunteers was very good. We’ll definitely do it again,” she said.
The Arnold Janssen Kalinga Foundation Inc. is an organization committed to the empowerment and re-creation of the homeless and the EJK families. Parties interested to be part of the AJKC initiatives, may message [email protected]