MEDICAL MISSION 2005

							                             MEDICAL MISSION 2005
                    H.O.P.E. FOUNDATION INTERNATIONAL


Participants:
H.O.P.E. Foundation International
HOPE Philippines
ADA/ FOCUS
Malacanang Medical Center Physicians
Manila Dental Society

  This years medical mission began with the group arriving at various times, various
airlines and with many tales to tell of their travels. A death on one plane, an asthma
attack that a child suffered and caused the plane to land and the weather causing a real
problem for another member gave all something to talk about and compare notes on.

  The Manila Hotel gave an excellent rate of $70 per night for double occupancy with
full buffet breakfast included. Although some participants like to stay in busier areas of
Manila this is always a place of relaxation for most.

  Friday morning a few of the group took a van to Villa Escudero and enjoyed the day
learning more of the culture of the Filipinos and eating lunch in the river.

  Saturday morning was the first of the missions. This was a day for 100 women,
sponsored by the sisters of Faithful Companions of Jesus to be examined. The sisters
are teaching them that they have worth in this world and show them how to make various
items they can sell in the market and have a few pesos to call their own. The women are
also being taught English, parenting and art classes. Since there had earlier been a project
for these l00 women to have pap smears but no exam we thought we would perform the
mission including physical exams and also dental examinations. The women were very
happy to have these exams and enjoyed the cheerful attitude of all the volunteers from
HOPE. Many of the women had problems that would not have been found if not for this
examination. Medicines were distributed and also left for the sisters and the physician
who goes there each week to distribute.

  Sunday morning the group left for Olongapo. A cruiser from the Manila Hotel was
rented and the group enjoyed their ride even with the luggage high inside the bus.
The Zanzibar welcomed the group, happy to see so many familiar faces. Rooms were
assigned and everyone settled down to get their rest before the next days activities began.
Dinner was served for all and the schedule was given for the next few days.

  It was agreed during the October visit of Marie Halo and Mary Mallari that Focus would
take care of the arrangements for the mission. This meant they would decide on
settlements that we hadn’t been to before and really needed help. It was decided
transportation was to be by jeepneys and weapon carriers since the terrain was such that
other vehicles could not make it. Food would be purchased and prepared by members of
Focus and local persons. Each day was a gastronomical delight. All expenses for the
mission were paid for by HFI.

   Monday morning the group left in Jeepneys for Morong, Bataan. This was the
resettlement area of the Vietnamese a few years ago. It was an experience that included
traveling over a hanging bridge with many of the boards missing and the river below
calling to us. The hike from there to the top of the mountain was quite strenuous and
many took a little rest now and then before reaching the destination. A fantastic breeze
was blowing which helped to cool everyone off. Tables had been set up prior to our
arrival and many people were all ready registered. The nurses proceeded with bp and
temps and the doctors soon found themselves working with a long line of patients
patiently waiting their turn. The dentists found that some vital instruments had been left
behind at the hotel so they began performing dental health projects and education. They
gave fluoride treatments to the children and showed them how to brush their teeth and
explained the importance of dental care. This was done in the school and the teachers
asked that we return next year. By the time they finished this project their dental
instruments had arrived and they proceeded with the necessary dental work.
There were 140 adults and 134 children medically treated .The dentists saw 27 patients
and did 38 extractions. Oral health was taught to 59 children.

Tuesday we traveled to Dampay, Zambales. The settlement had prepared everything with
roped off areas for registration and covered areas for the pharmacy and the physicians
examining tables so the heat of the day would not be felt. A separate area was set up for
the dentists. All the planning was so much appreciated by the group and the food again
was excellent. Many patients were referred for surgeries and follow up of various
ailments. The one problem that we ran into frequently was hypertension. The doctors
talked to the patients regarding cutting back on salt intake. This includes patis, soy sauce,
bagong and salted fish. The patients then explained that due to their lack of money their
main diet consisted of rice and possibly one of the above items. How to change this is the
big question but no solution can be found to correct it.
There were Adults 231 children -254 medically treated Dental patients were 124 & 139
extractions were performed. The oral health project was performed with 69 children.
There were 106 optometry patients examined and glasses were distributed.


Wednesday was a long trip over the lahar fields to Baliwet. This is a three hour trip from
Olongapo and one where masks had to be worn due to the volcanic ash and fields of lahar
we had to travel over. We took the jeepneys to the beginning of the lahar and then
transferred to the weapon carriers for the final ride. These are left over from the Subic
Naval base and are relics of WWII. The floors of most of them have been replaced but
there are still areas as we went through rivers that found the cab area a great place for a
foot bath. At the completion of the day the group was taken to the area where they have a
large herbal garden and is the beginning of the area for the ADA animal husbandry
project.
 There were Adults -161 Children 107 medically treated. Dental patients 19 with 22
extractions. Oral health was taught to 71 children There were 65 optometry patients
examined and glasses distributed to them.

Thursday we left the hotel at 5:30 since the settlement of Lumibao is located in an area
two and a half hours travel time from Olongapo. Beside the travel time we were told we
had to be there by 8 am in order to cross the lake before the winds started up. OOPS- We
found we had to cross by banka – dug out canoes fortunately with pontoons – Each one
held approximately 6 people. The supplies were taken over first since from the landing
area they had to be put on caribao carts and taken up the mountain to the settlement.
It was an exciting trip and a beautiful one since the area was bathed in the early morning
rising sun and mist. Beside this the lake is covered with mercury left over from the gold
mines and a lovely shimmer made a beautiful sight. This lake has created many problems
due to the mercury and the eating of fish from it. There are many children born with
defects and the people have been warned not to eat the fish. However, when you are
hungry you eat what you can get.
 From the landing area we had to walk up the mountain. The people were extremely
happy to see us since they claim they never have missions there and cannot afford to pay
to take the boats over to the mainland to seek medical care. Beside paying for the boat
they would have to pay for a jeepney to take them to the town over one hour away to see
a doctor.
The day was a joy for all and we felt we were really accomplishing a lot. Again the food
was excellent and was served on bamboo strips and with spoons cut out of bamboo.
We found a woman who had fallen and broke her wrist. One of the doctors gave us a
lesson in treating this type of injury and splinting it with bamboo. She refused to go with
us to the hospital since she wasn’t having pain. The doctor said she really needed a cast.
She insisted that since it wasn’t painful she didn’t need to go. The lesson for the day- Do
not give pain medication. That way the patient won’t refuse going to the hospital. A
minor surgery was also performed by one of our physicians saving the patient a trip to the
town below.
There were 192 Adults and 162 Children medically treated. The dentists examined 55
patients and did 63 extractions. There were 63 children taught Oral health. The optometry
patients totaled 26 and glasses were also given to them.
The final day was at Kanaynayan. Everyone was anxious to see our medical center. Since
we do not at present have a midwife/ doctor working there the patients were many. One
of the rooms is now used as a sewing room. Machines were donated by Makati Rotary
Club and various persons have been teaching the Aetas sewing skills. They currently are
making pot holders since the Makati Rotary told them they would buy all they made.
There were 197 Adults and 153 Children examined and treated. The dentist examined
24 patients and did 42 extractions They also taught oral health to 83 children. The
optometry patients examined and given glasses were 46.

This brought the total number of patients treated to Adults 978, Children 840, dental 229
and with 324 extractions and 248 optometric patients examined and given glasses. Oral
Health teaching 345 children. Total patients seen 2295.
Most of the participants left that night for their return to Manila. However, a very
wonderful pair of our group stayed to continue bull dozing the road to the center. A bull
dozer had been given to ADA many years ago and after a short time needed repairs that
no one could afford or figure out how to repair. With a lot of knowledge and hard work
the bull dozer was fixed so the road could be passable. Previously a vehicle could not go
all the way to the medical center and a hike of a couple of miles had to be done with
ravines in the road and many large stones blocking the way. The Aetas got together and
filled in many of the holes with stones and moved large rocks prior to our arrival. With
the assistance of the bull dozer the road is now passable for vehicles. Further construction
will be done on the road next year.

 With this we end another successful mission. Although fewer patients were treated
during the mission than in previous years we feel we accomplished a great deal since the
areas we visited were desperate for assistance. Follow up is currently being done. Goiters
are a major problem .These are scheduled for surgeries. Various other problems were
found and are also being cared for with the assistance of doctors at San Marcelino
Hospital, Iba Hospital and Gordon Hospital in Olongapo.

A sincere thank you is extended to all participants, organizations that gave supplies,
individuals that helped support our project and to the other groups that helped make our
mission such a success. We couldn’t do these projects without the help of all of you.
A special thank you must be given to ADA/FOCUS for their wonderful assistance and
hard work. It made this mission a memorable one for all.

Mary Mallari
Participants

US
Dr. Debbie Tan
Eugene & Emy Magwili
Fr.Jude McGeough
Tom Unsworth
Toni Makalinaw
Don Hayden
Dr. James Balukjian
Nicette Balukjian
Lauren Balukjian
Jerome Doyle
Bob Cullen
Jenifer Fournier
Scott Holcomb
Malou deLa Rosa
Audrey Kuntson
Consuelo Obien
Dr. John Castor
Marie Halo, RN
Mary Mallari
SBMA
Dr. Rick Magsaysay
Malacanang
Jonathan duldulao, MD
Maria Luisa M. Date, MD
Rhoderick B. Alas, MD
Arlyn P.Caberoy, RN
Rommel T. Repato, RN
Rudy E. Andrada
Manila Dental Society
Rogelio C.Date, DMD
Maria Gemma P. Galang, DMD
Michael R. Baybay,DMD
Delia Ignacio Barba, DMD’
Marian R. Manuel, DMD
Eduard M. Juane, DMD
JesusDe Guia, DMD

Members of ADA and Focus did organizing, shopping, cooking, driving, setting up each
settlement and basically everything needed to make the mission a huge success. We did
not have all the names but Thank All for the help they gave.