November 19, 2010 - Campaign Against RH Bill

Brgy. Ticulab, Maitum, Sarangani Province:

Lt.Valenzuela, organizer of the mission,
signed up against RH Bill

one signature makes a difference

The Philippine Army 73^rd IB organized another medical civil action program for the residents of Barangay Ticulab, Maitum, Sarangani Province, in cooperation with other LGU’s and NGO’s.

Barangay Ticulab, a 2-hour drive from General Santos City, was one of the areas that were attacked by the MILF last 2008.  During the war, a number of residents were lured to the hideouts of the rebels, thinking they could hide in safety among friends, but realized their error of judgment when they were used as hostages. Eventually those hostages were released, and serenity restored. Peace was still in place as we came to conduct the medical mission.

The team served 217  medical patients, 37 dental patients, and 26 circumcision cases. Also a feeding program was provided among the malnourished children of the said Barangay.

We assisted in the minor surgeries.  The team served 217  medical patients, 37 dental patients, and 26 circumcision cases. Also a feeding program was provided among the malnourished children of the said Barangay.

With the ongoing international pressure on the Philippine government to pass the Reproductive Health Bill, we decided to spare precious time to conduct a signature campaign among the residents to stop the passage of RH Bill.  We gave a lecture on the moral and scientific dangers related to the provisions of the RH Program in the bill. We hoped to prepare the grassroots to resist the execution of an immoral law, in the instance that the bill would be passed into law.  Naturally, we met people who refused to sign the petition against the bill, but we encountered many who listened, argued, and decided to support our campaign.

Young minds and hearts hearing the word of God

We also conducted a Catechism class with a role play for the children.  We distributed rosaries and bioethics pamphlets among the residents.

November 27, 2010 - Brgy. San Isidro, General Santos City

In line with the anniversary celebration of Mindanao Bulletin and Sapol News Bulletin, a Medical-Dental mission was conducted to serve the residents of Purok Mapailubon, Barangay San Isidro, General Santos City.

ACIM Asia was one of the partners invited to serve in the mission,  along with other partners such as the Joint Task Force, Pinili Clinic, RD Foundation, Philippine Eagles, and Catanios catering.  At the end of the mission, the tally was:  250 medical patients and 110 dental patients served.

Needless to say, but we're saying it anyway, we distributed catechism pamphlets and conducted signature campaign against the RH Bill.  Of course we also distributed rosaries.  It was a lively mission all in all, with passionate debates on the RH Bill.  There were pro-RH bill patients who would not let our campaign go without a challenge, so they made the campaign come to life.  It was exhilarating to argue for Christian doctrines and win some points. May those arguments take root in good soil. God bless us all!

November 8, 2010 - Poblacion, Palimbang, Sultan Kudarat

Due to the recent outbreak of Filariasis among the residents of Palimbang, a medical civic action program was organized to address such problem. Filariasis screening was conducted and 13 out of 30 tested positive for the disease.  Free medicines were given to those who tested positive.  A second phase of treatment will follow to stop the outbreak.

ACIM Asia was one of the partners of this particular MedCAP which served 931 medical patients, 68 dental patients, 110 circumcision clients, and 40 cyst-removal patients.  Seventy-five children were given supplementary high-nutrition feeding.  


Health teaching on dengue fever was also conducted simultaneously. 

November 4, 2010 - Tinumigues, Sadsalan, Madanding, Udtong, and Sigayann of Lambayong, Sultan Kudarat

Red Cross volunteers conducting health assessments

For almost a month now, a number of barangays in the Municipality of Lambayong, Sultan Kudarat had been submerged in water from the overflowing Allah River.  One of the dikes that divert the water away from the residential areas had broken down. Most of the communities suffered water up to the chest level, which made it almost impossible for land transportation to reach the communities.   Community boats became the mode of transportation for the local residents.

US ARMY CAT 734 Medic, SSG Edwin Torrescortes
assessing a pediatric patient.

A medical mission was organized by the 33rd IB of Philippine army, in partnership with LGUs and NGOs, to assist the flooded communities in the Municipality of Lambayong, Sultan Kudarat namely: Barangays Tinumigues, Udtong, Sigayan, Sadsalan and Madanding to address the proliferation of water-borne diseases.

Health Education on the prevention of Dengue Fever

The team was divided into four groups to serve the barangays simultaneously, ACIM Asia along with the Red Cross- Tacurong chapter was assigned at barangay Tinumigues serving about 296 patients. 


The Sadsalan team served 232 patients, Madanding team served 281 patients and Udtong and Sigayan teams served 285 patients.

School supplies, used clothing and relief goods were also distributed among the affected families, alongside the medical missions.

October 16, 2010 - Datal Bukay, Glan, Sarangani Province

Here we are again on a medical mission organized by the 73^rd IB of the Philippine Army.
____________________________________


We went off to serve the indigent tribal families in the hinterlands of Datal Bukay, Glan, Sarangani Province.  It was a 2-hour drive from Glan town proper.

 We embarked on a four-wheel-drive truck then went forward, bouncing along the very rocky roads, crossing rocky rivers, bumpy and muddy creeks, and traversing steep and rugged mountain sides.  

ACIM Asia team was composed of 9 volunteers: 2 French, 1 Swiss, 5 Filipino Nurses, 1 Filipino Aide, and a  local doctor from Glan who confirmed his participation at the very last minute. 


The lone doctor labored with complete devotion and managed to serve 330 medical patients at the end of the day.  The dental team served 120 patients and  the circumcision team attended 55 patients. 

While the health mission was going on, a     

peace advocacy campaign was conducted by Kapatid Kapayapaan Council to promote peace awareness among the local residents.

As we traversed our way back to the city, we  solemnly wondered at the experience we just had. Behind the mountains and beyond the river lies a village of humans longing for medical services which were beyond their reach.  What a profound wonder we felt, like we had been some kind of Columbuses who navigated oceans to see a world beyond our consciousness, seeing  people like us who had needs like ours, which we were able to humbly serve.  Some time in your life have you ever felt like a little hero? Well, that's how we felt that day.

And do you know how it felt to see the joys of the villagers in receiving rosary beads?  We felt like we were some kind of St. Francis Xavier.  


But of course, we were just feeling dramatic.  Some more heroic missionaries had served the village before.  How else could the people have known how to pray the rosary before we came? In each of the few houses that we had visited we had seen a simple picture of the Sacred Heart.  So really, it wasn't as if we planted the first Cross in that remote village.  A humbling experience, indeed.  Someone else was more heroic, who traversed the rivers and the slopes BEFORE four-wheel drive trucks were invented!  Cheers to the first missionaries.  God bless and keep their souls.  

2010 September 29-October 1: Maguindanao and Sultan Kudarat Mission

Medical-Dental- Surgical (Minor) Mission in Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao

With the 33rd Infantry Batallion of the Philippine Army and Joint Special Operations Task Force Philippines Civil Affairs Team 734, and Military Information Support Team Bravo both of from US Army, ACIM-Asia team composed of 3 French ladies (1 doctor, 1 nurse, 1 history student); 1 Swiss lady (preparing to go to Midwifery School); 3 Filipino Nurses; and 1 Filipino Aide, went to a peace-building mission in Maguindanao and Sultan Kudarat.

September 29: Venue: Datu Paglat, Idtig, Maguindanao
No. of Patients Served: 426 (Medical Adult and Pedia: 238; Dental: 120; Minor Surgery: 68)

September 30: Venue: Pendatun Elementary School, SKP, Badak, Maguindanao
No. of Patients Served: 530 (Medical Adult and Pedia: 316; Dental: 136; Minor Surgery: 78)

October 1: Venue: Lambayong Central School, Lambayong, Sultan Kudarat
No. of Patients Served: 599 (Medical Adult and Pedia: 319; Dental: 150; Minor Surgery: 130)

2010 September 8 Mission

FVR Village: Surprise free clinic for the residents around the mission chapel in the area. The children of the families had been attending the catechism classes in the area for more than 5 years and their parents had attended the livelihood training on July 31. On September 8 the team surprised them with a medical mission. So great was their joy at the unexpected gift that came to them on the feast of the Nativity of Our Lady... 85 patients (adult, children and babies) were served.

2010 August 15: Last Minute Mission

On the Feast of the Assumption of Our Lady, the team embarked on an early trip to Quezon City to attend Holy Mass at Our Lady of Victories' Church. Upon arrival at the Church gate, the group met a man shivering from fever. He showed the infected wound on his fingers and proceeded to explain that he was bitten by a rabid dog which had died some days after having bitten him. Having ran out of money, he was only able to get one anti-rabies shot, and had missed his subsequent shots. The poor man had gone begging around Quezon City, and had come knocking at the Church gate to try his luck. Dr. Dichard took some antibiotics from his bag to give to the man for his infected wound.

After the Holy Mass, the group split. One team went to St. Luke's Hospital to visit the two mission volunteers from Canada and France who were confined due to dengue fever. Another team took the dog-bitten man to San Lazaro Hospital where he had first received his anti-rabies shot.

The doctor there was not happy with the condition of the man whose time was running out, having been bitten one month ago already, and he ordered an emergency treatment for the man. After paying for his shots, the team left him in the hospital to start the long trip back to Tanay.

The very grateful man promised to pray for the benefactors who made the mission possible. He promised to offer prayers for the sick volunteers who were still in the hospital, particularly for the mission director, who was also sick in a hospital in Singapore.

2010 August 14: Sumilang Mission

Before leaving for France, Dr. Gilbert Dichard wanted to come back to Rizal Province to extend his medical services so the team decided to serve the sick residents in Sumilang, Rizal Province, in the relocation area of families whose homes were totally destroyed by Typhoon Frank (local name:" Ondoy") that hit the country in 2009. These families came from all over Metro Manila and Rizal Province. They lost their homes and their means of livelihood to the flood. Having been brutally displaced, they needed help to start anew, to build new homes, to adjust to a new neighborhood, to start a new trade, to forget their old lifestyle and begin a new life. They still live in tents in a congested place and all share common portable toilets. Fortunately for them, they have not lost hope in the goodness of Divine Providence and in the kindness of their fellow human beings.

The most common ailments treated during the mission were skin diseases and respiratory diseases.  There were 85 patients served that day:  53 babies and children and 32 adults. 

July 26 - August 4: ROSA MYSTICA HEALTH MISSION 2010

SUMMARY of MEDICAL MISSION

No. of Mission Areas: 7
(Rizal Province: 3; Zambales: 1; Leyte: 3)
Date: July 26-31, August 2-4, 2010
No. of Mission Days: 9
No. of Patients Served in Medical and Dental: 4,426
No. of Patients Served in Wound Dressing and Minor Surgical Treatment Area: 94
No. of Patients Served in Laboratory and Diagnostics Area: 1,258
___________________________________________________
Particulars:

TANAY:

1. Sampaloc, Tanay, Rizal Province:
Venue: St. Philomena Chapel, Townsite Subdivision, Sampaloc, Tanay, Rizal Province
Date: July 26-31, August 2-4, 2010
No. of Mission Days: 9
No. of Patients Served: 3074
(Adult: 1051 ;Pedia: 1308 ;Dental: 527 ;Opthal: 182 ; Orthoptist: 6)
No. of Laboratory and Diagnostic Tests performed: 1,258
No. of Patients Served at Wound Dressing Area: 94

2. Teresa, Rizal Province
Venue: St. Ann Chapel, Dalig, Pantay, Teresa, Rizal Province
Date: Juy 26, 2010
No. of Mission Days: 1
No. of Patients Served: 179

3. Poblacion, Tanay, Rizal Province:
Venue: Day Care Center, Sitio Upper Gabihan, Tanay, Rizal Province
Date: July 31, 2010
No. of Mission Days: 1
No. of Patients Served: 255

LEYTE:

1. Tacloban City, Leyte
Venue: Barangay 64 Gymnasium, Tacloban, Leyte
Date: July 26, 2010
No. of Mission Days: 1
No. of Patients Served: 119

2. Sogod, Southern Leyte
Venue: Sogod District Hospital, Sogod, Southern Leyte
Date: July 27-28, 2010
No. of Mission Days: 2
No. of Patients Served: 480

3. Maasin, Southern Leyte
Venue: Barangay Agbao Gymnasium, Maasin City, Southern Leyte
Date: July 29-30, 2010
No. of Mission Days: 2
No. of Patients Served: 170

ZAMBALES:

Venue: Multipurpose Hall, Aeta Resettlement Area, Alingway sa Kapihan, Sitio Gala, Subic, Zambales
Date: August 2-3, 2010
No. of Mission Days: 2
No. of Patients Served: 149
__________________________________________________________

SUMMARY OF LIVELIHOOD TRAINING :

No. of Mission Areas: 8
Specific Venues:
Alabel, Sarangani Province: 3: Ladol, Kawas, and Poblacion
General Santos City: 5: Lower Banualan, Purok Malakas, FVR Village,
City Jail Male Ward, City Jail Female Ward
Date: July 26-31, August 2-3, 2010
No. of Mission Days: 8
No. of Livelihood Training Participants: 288

Type of Training:
1. Production of Detergent Powder
2. Production of Antifungal Ointment
3. Production of Twine Rosaries

2010 ROSA MYSTICA HEALTH MISSION SCHEDULE

July 26 - August 4: MEDICAL - DENTAL MISSIONS

Orientation Day: July 24, 4:00PM - 6:00 PM
Move-out of Mission on Wheels: July 25, 9:00 AM
Post Mission Evaluation Meeting: August 5, 9:00 AM

ACTUAL MEDICAL MISSION AREAS:
Tanay, Rizal Province, to be led by Dr. Ma. June Viray /Dr. JP Dickes
Zambales-Leyte, to be led by Jerwin Aguinaldo
Sarangani Province, to be led by Judith Dagatan

2010 MED MISSIONS SUPPORTED

Jan. 23 / Kiamba, Sarangani Province
together with Dr. Cagape
Jan. 30 / Barangay Katangawan, General Santos City
together with the Mother Francisca del Espiritu Santo Foundation
Jan. 31 / Kiamba, Sarangani Province
together with Dr. Cagape
Feb. 4 / Notre Dame of Tacurong College, Tacurong, Sultan Kudarat: 400 patients
together with Phil Army 33rd Infantry Battalion and US Army
Feb. 5 / Barangay Upo, Maitum, Sarangani Province 600 patients
together with Provincial Vice Governor's Office
Feb. 16 / Barangay Maligang, Kiamba, Sarangani Province
together with the Provincial Vice Governor's Office
Mar. 13 / Kiami, Malapatan, Sarangani Province 200 patients
together with Provincial Vice Governor's Office
Mar. 19 / Barangay Lambayong, Sultan Kudarat 400 patients
together with Phil Army 33rd Infantry Battalion
Apr. 5 / Sinawal Elementary School, General Santos City 307 patients
together with US Army Civil Affairs Team 712
Joint Task Force Gensan
Apr. 17-18 / Holy Cross Parish, Calumpang, General Santos City
together with Parish Social Action Committee
May 1 / San Jose, General Santos City
together with Holy Cross Parish Social Action Committee
May 8 / Poblacion, Malapatan, Sarangani Province 280 patients
together with Dr. Cagape
May 30 / Baragay Sitio Katico, Pres. Quirino, Sultan Kudarat 174 patients
together with Phil Army 33rd Infantry Battalion
Jun 3 / Military Camp, Pres. Quirino, Sultan Kudarat 285 patients
together with Phil Army 33rd Infantry Battalion

SPECIAL CASE: Assisted October 2009 until April 2010

Little patient from Sarangani Province.

Non-communicating hydrocephalus.

Dear St. Louie Jay

EXPENSES on Louie Jay:  540,784.91 PhP
February 2010:  137,894.91 PhP (Baby Louie was admitted to the hospital on promissory note, the collateral being the registration paper of the mission car and the ID's of mission volunteers).
March 2010:  401,200.00 PhP (postmortem payments to hospital and to neurosurgeon)
April 2010:  1,690.00 PhP (miscellaneous fees post mortem)

2009 OTHER MED MISSIONS SUPPORTED

2009

DR CAGAPE'S MISSION (FUNDED BY ACIM-ASIA)
July 17 / Sufatubo, Glan, Sarangani Province: 328 patients
July 18 / Sitio Benigno Aquino, Miasong, Tupi, South Cotabato:
July 19 / T'murok, Datalbatong, Malungon, Sarangani Province: 74 patients
July 25 / Gasi, Kiamba, Sarangani Province: 121 patients
July 30 / Sarangani Provincial Jail, Alabel, Sarangani Province:
July 31 - Aug 1 / San Jose, Glan, Sarangani Province: 420 patients
Aug. 8 / San Jose, General Santos City:
Aug. 12 / Kapanal, Gasi, Kiamba, Sarangani Province:
Aug. 15-16 / Kablon-Kalkam, Tupi, South Cotabato: 608 patients
Aug. 20 / Mudan, Glan, Sarangani Province:
Aug. 28 / Maguling, Maitum, SArangani Province: 214 patients
Sept. 5 / Barrio B'laan, Malapatan, Sarangani Province: 351 patients

PARTNERSHIP WITH US ARMY MEDCAP:
Sept. 15 / Bawing, General Santos City: 310 patients

PARTNERSHIP WITH DR. MADRID and ROSARY MOVEMENT:
Oct. 11 / Malungon, Sarangani Province: 100 patients

PARTNERSHIP WITH HOLY CROSS PARISH, CALUMPANG, GSC
April 19 / Calumpang, General Santos City 450 patients

2009 TYPHOON RELIEF MISSION SUMMARY

Nov. 29 / Malinta, Los Banos, Laguna: 225 patients
Nov. 28 / Bambang, Los Banos, Laguna: 230 patients
Nov. 27 / Kanluran, Sta. Rosa, Laguna: 204 patients
Nov. 25 / Evacuation Centers, Sta. Cruz, Laguna: 284 patients
Nov. 24 / Poblacion, Alabang, Muntinlupa: 286 patients
Nov. 21 / Mayondon, Los Banos, Laguna: 288 patients
Nov. 19-20 / Cardona, Talim Island, Rizal: 280 patients
Oct. 22 / Cainta, Rizal (riverbank community): 114 patients
Oct. 22 / Cainta, Rizal (near golfcourse): 120 patients
Oct. 19-20 / Sampaloc, Tanay, Rizal: 400 patients
Oct. 15 / Brgy. Silangan, San Mateo, Rizal: 565 patients
Oct. 13 / Holy Family Parish, Gulod, Novalichez, Q.C. 679 patients
Oct. 12 / Bagong Silangan, Novaliches, Quezon City: 262 patients
Oct. 11 / Brgy. Nangka, Marikina, Metro Manila: 142 patients
Oct. 8-9 / Brgy. Tumana, Marikina, Metro Manila: 750 patients
Oct. 7 / Malanday, Marikina, Metro Manila: 288 patients
Oct. 6 / Malanday National High School, Marikina: 92 patients
Oct. 5 / Tagupo, Tatalon, Quezon City: 346 patients
Oct. 3 / Brgy. Tanyong, Marikina, Metro Manila: 280 patients
TOTAL PATIENTS SERVED: 5,835
TOTAL BARANGAYS SERVED: 17
TOTAL DAYS OF SERVICE: 21