by Megs S. Lunn
The Uplift Interna-tionale from Denver, Colorado, USA and Rotary Club of Kalibo in partnership with the Provincial Government Office through Gov. Carlito S. Marquez and Cong. Florencio T. Miraflores, the Rotary Club of Metro Kalibo, Aklan Medical Society, Aklan Dental Association and other Allied Medical Services, in cooperation with our Tri-media partners: Madyaas Pen, RGMA-DYRU and Kalibo Cable Television, will conduct an International Medical Mission for children with facial deformities in the Philippines.
The Operation Taghoy Medical Mission 2009 will perform facial surgery for the children with cleft lip and palate from 1 year-old and above. The medical mission will be held on Feb. 14-20, 2009 at the West Visayas Medical Center, Mandurriao, Iloilo City; and Feb. 21-27, 2009 at the Dr. Rafael S. Tumbokon Memorial Hospital, Kalibo, Aklan.
Dr. Jaime Yrastorza, president of Uplift Internationale said, "We would like to offer the medical organization in the Philippines a noble partnership to promote the participation of local healthcare professional peers in patient care activities and encourage opportunities for the exchange of knowledge through this medical mission." Yrastorza is past president of Rotary Club of Whiteridge, Denver, Colorado, USA.
The word "taghoy" is a Cebuano term which means "to whistle". "We would like to give every child an opportunity to whistle after the operation and we mend one child at a time," Dr. Yrastorza added. Taghoy is also an Aklanon word for whistle.
Last September 2008, Gov. Marquez welcomed the team’s emissary visit to Kalibo composed of Dr. Dick Bryan – VP Operation Officer, Mr. Jonathan Savelle – Quarters Masters. The officers of the Rotary Club of Kalibo headed by Pres. Megs S. Lunn also welcomed them. The team also had a courtesy call to Dr. Paul Macahilas – the chief of DRSTMH, Kalibo, Aklan, to the Aklan Medical Society – Pres. Felma Dela Cruz and her members and finally to the La Esperanza Hotel – Mrs. Jemena Trinidad where the medical team 2009 will be billeted. Cong. Florencio T.Miraflores likewise gave his support to the team, together with Gov. Marquez, who are both honorary members of the Rotary Club of Kalibo. Likewise, Sen. Ed Angara and RC Forbes Park Makati helped in the facilitation of the mission’s documents in Manila.
The Operation Taghoy Medical Mission 2009 will give a free surgical operation only for the cleft lip and palate for children age 1 year and order, free laboratory test/screening and medicines. The team is composed of pro-fessional doctors from Denver, Colorado, nurses from the neighboring states in the US, England, outreach volunteers from Colorado, Pennsylvania and the Philippines. Dr. Oscar Hilario (ENT) and Ms. Megs Lunn are both official and only Filipino team members of Uplift Internationale for the mission 2009. /MP
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