A total of 106 patients were operated on in a collaborative surgical mission sponsored by Operation Smile Philippines and HOPE Volunteers Foundation Inc. in Bacolod City last week.
Life-changing surgeries for children with cleft lip, cleft palate, and other facial deformities were performed at the Bacolod Adventist Medical Center (BAMC), Edith Villanueva, Hope Volunteers Foundation chairperson, said Sunday, Nov 17.
She said 21 dental obturators were made and speech therapy services were also provided.
A team of more than 60 volunteers – including plastic surgeons, anesthesiologists, pediatricians, dentists, speech pathologists, nurses, and other medical staff were part of the medical mission.
The mission was sponsored by HOPE Volunteers Foundation headed by Villanueva and its president Gian Trebol, and Operation Smile Philippines headed by its executive director Emiliano Romano, program manager Mark Salas and Menard Lubugan.
Villanueva thanked the Bacolod Advent Medical Center, Johnson and Johnson, Watsons Philippines, Negros Occidental Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson, Bacolod City Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez, the Chamber Volunteer Fire Brigade, Lions Club, medical director Dr. Irene Tangco and her Operation Smile team, and their volunteers for the success of the mission.*