4th DAUSA Medical Mission All Set
Wed, July 3, 2002 9:32 pm
[Note: Originally posted on Kaming Danawanon, Vol VII, No. 3 Jul-Aug 2001.]
The Danao Association USA, Inc. has again mobilized some 15 U.S. based medical professionals to volunteer in the 4th DAUSA Medical Mission and serve the people of Danao at the Danao District Hospital on September 18 — 20, 2001.
The DAUSA Medical Missions had been a tremendous success since its inception in September 1998. It had served close to 4000 indigent Danawanons, including 36 cleft-lip and palate surgeries, and various other major surgeries such as thyroidictomies, hernias, ovarian tumors and approximately about 300 minor surgeries.
The Medical Mission provides free consultations, performs surgical procedures, all free of charge including medicines and medical supplies which are donated and/or solicited by DAUSA members in the U.S.
The Medical Mission is jointly sponsored by the City of Danao under the new administration of City Mayor Ramon Durano III and the Office of Congressman Joseph Durano and assisted by local NGO’s, the Danao Professional Organization (DPO) and the Titans.
The U.S. group will be complimented by a contingent of surgeons and other medical professionals belonging to the Philippine College of Surgeons, led by Dr. Lito Almendras and Dr. Gregory ‘Koko’ Canga, who are prominent surgeons in Cebu. Both are from Danao.
Other medical volunteers are Danawanon doctors practicing in or outside of Danao, among them are the medical staff of the Danao District Hospital, headed by Dr. Cynthia Duterte, doctors from the Danao City Health Office headed by Dr. Arturo Allego; Dr. Merwyn Gomez, who is practicing in Mindanao; Dr. Luzviminda Roble, a noted physician in the Island of Bahamas; Dr. Elizabeth Aguilar, a cardiologist at Perpetual Succor Hospital and Dr. Wilfredo Ypil of Danao City.
Dr. Ted Nicholoff, a maxillo-facial surgeon and Executive Director of the Manila-based St. Martin de Porres Catholic Medical Mission Guild has positively confirmed his group’s participation in the 2001 DAUSA Medical Mission. Ramon Barriga and Dr. Nicholoff recently had a meeting in Los Angeles regarding this joint undertaking.
According to Dr. Nicholoff three surgeons who are experts in fixing facial deformities from the University of Wisconsin will probably join their team as they did in 1999.
The St. Martin group actively participated in 1998 and 1999 and was responsible for the cleft-lip surgeries.
Two other doctors from Texas, a husband and wife team, Drs. & Mrs. Arturo Imperial, a surgeon and a pediatrician, also had confirmed their participation to Joe Campo, a DAUSA board of director based in Houston, Texas.
Other medical volunteers who had committed and confirmed their participation are: Dr. Loretta Montesclaros, Fred Almeda, Surgical Tech and Natividad Durano-Almeda, R.N.; Adolfo Famas, R.N., and Annalee Gorre-Famas, R.N., Nieves Durano, R.N., Dyesebel Alvaro, Respiratory Therapist; Nieffen Mata, R.N., Cecilia Barriga, R.N.
The 2001 DAUSA Medical Mission is once again led by Dr. Anita Cal-Jackson who had always been an active volunteer in past medical missions. A diplomate in family practice, Anita has a very busy medical practice in Temecula, California and yet always finds time to volunteer.
She has worked at the Danao General Hospital for about four years until 1984 when she came to settle down in California.
The DAUSA Support Group will be headed by Ramon Barriga and incoming DAUSA President Gemma Montegrande along with Crosine Roble, Joe Campo, Melinda Derecho-Aquino and Arlene Gorre.
Meanwhile, other DAUSA projects, the Free Dental Clinic, headed by Crosine “Endai” Roble and the Educational Mission Team spearheaded by Marieta Palos will be simultaneously undertaken during medical mission on September 18 — 20, 2001.
Endie Roble has been closely coordinating with Danao City Dentist, Dr. Luther Laude for the Free Dental Clinic and had invited the city’s private dental practitioners to volunteer their time and professional services during the 3-day period.
Endai further reported that the 5-seater Dental Mobile Unit belonging to the City of Cebu will again be utilized in the DAUSA Free Dental Clinic as it was in previous year which attracted several dental patients.
Educational Mission team leader Marieta Palos, said her group will distribute books, school supplies and equipments to selected barangay schools. Marieta already shipped out boxes of school supplies through Bobon Castillo, who is responsible for shipping out both medical and educational materials for the annual DAUSA Medical-Dental and Educational Mission.
Other DAUSA activities in Danao this September includes a visit to Cebu State College of Science and Technology in Barangay Sabang for a lunch meeting with 30 DAUSA scholars, who are beneficiaries of the DAUSA Adopt-a-Student Project.
Although, the Chief of Educational Mission, Pat Osmena as well as the Adopt-a-Student Project Managers, Candy Canga and Darling Dayondon, will not be going with the group, the project has a strong backing from generous supporters, and more pledges have been coming.
Also in the DAUSA itinerary is the annual visit and lunch with Danao City Jail inmates which is being coordinated by Chely/Virgie Munoz along with Citas Villareal, Emma Duterte (Australia), and Jennifer Beduya-Banks.
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