Tuesday, July 23, 2013 was a red-letter day for the province of Surigao del Sur
in the island of Mindanao ,
Philippines .
Its capital city of Tandag
was the venue for the official signing of the Memorandum of Agreement documents
in the adoption of the provincial hospital, Adela Serra Ty Memorial Medical
Center by Montero Medical Missions. It was attended by no less than the
Secretary and Undersecretary of Health, Drs. Enrique'Ike' Ona and Teodoro'Ted'
Herbosa respectively. This is the first hospital adopted under the
auspices and control of the Department of Health, not the provincial
government. There were 20 co-signatories, including six from Virginia :
Montero Medical Missions, American Orthotic and Prosthetic
Center , Beach Eye Care, Virginia Center
for Eye Surgery, Community
United Methodist
Church
This event was in concurrence with the three-day eyesight
medical mission trip of MMM, led by our MMM Eyesight Programs Chairman,
Virginia Beach-based ophthalmologist Peyton Neatrour,MD and participated by
humanitarian ophthalmologists from neighboring provinces, namely: Drs. Joseph
Custodio, Leonel Santos, Ed Tan, Matt Baruc and Noel Chua from Manila who is
Chairman of the National Committee for Sight Preservation. 100 surgeries were
performed and mainly cataract operations. There were 600 patients screened,
refracted and given eyeglasses by optometrists, led by Dr. Chris Buniel, our
Director of MMM Eyesight 20/20 Project. He was joined in by colleagues; Drs.
Lance Buniel, Belinda Daus, Jonathan Dango and Ma.Teresa Cordovez.The Neatrour
children joined by their church youth pastor Steve Watson, screened 400
patients for diabetes as they did two years ago with support from Eastern Virginia Medical
School Strelitz
Diabetes Center
Our second sustainable healthcare project, the MMM
Prosthesis, founded and led by Mike Smith, CPO and owner of American
Orthotic and Prosthetic Center, received a most pleasant surprise. We were told
that it will have a 3000 sq.ft. space in the planned new administrative
building where the MMM Eyesight 20/20 Center will also be located. Dr. Ona
did the honors at the groundbreaking ceremony. This complements the newly built
hospital. To top it all, we found a willing William Aguilar, President of
'Persons With Disabilities' to chair this project in the province.
Rehabilitation physician, Mayla Tee,MD and technician Winnie Belosillo, both
from Manila representing Physicians for Peace Philippines, joined Mike for
a day in screening 30 amputees for eventual prosthesis fitting. After
meeting with four government employed dentists, we laid the groundwork for our
MMM Dental Care project and to be locally chaired by Dr. Earl Cloyd Mira. This
involves a curriculum to train volunteer dental oral educators, preparatory
to our plan to eventually graduate dental assistants. This third MMM
healthcare project is chaired by Vicki Brett, Director of Dental Assisting
Program at ECPI University
We were graciously hosted by the province
of Surigao del Sur thru the excellent
leadership of Gov. Johnny and civic leader Lelis Pimentel and by Tandag City
Back in States, we are now busy collecting usable and
functional equipment and machines to send by year's end, via a 40 ft. container
to MMM's newly adopted hospital which practically needs everything, according
to our expert logistician, Jim Ireland and MMM benefactors, Jean and Sharon.
MMM appreciates any cash donation thru pay pal or in-kind donation when
applicable. We have a tax-exempt 501[c][3] status.
