Help for Cagayan de Oro and Iligan

We are collecting donations for typhoon victims in Cagayan de Oro City!
Collection period:  December 20-31, 2011.

Donations of medicines, food, water, beddings, clothes, household items, hygiene products, school supplies are welcome.

Please send donations to Catholic Association of Doctors, Nurses and Health Professionals in Asia (ACIM-ASIA) at 2400 De Dios Street, Lagao, 9500 General Santos City.
Or call 083 301 8824 for collection.
Thank you so much and may God bless your kind hearts!

Aerial view of CDO after the typhoon:

Video of typhoon aftermath in Iligan City:

Hope for Alyn

Greetings from Jolo! 

Alyn has Thalassemia Major. She's already 14 years old but she has the body of a 5 years old. She is in the public hospital here in Jolo suffering pains. She needs help.  Her family cannot afford her treatment.  I do hope that your association could give real help in many ways. Thank you so much and God bless. 

Fr. Romeo P. Villanueva, OMI.  

Please help me....

Please help me.

I heard that you take pity on poor people who are sick.  May I ask for whatever help you can please extend to my children, especially my fourth son?  He has mitral valve dysplasia.  He is complaining of difficult and painful breathing.  I know that someday I will have to let him go, but while he is alive and under my care, I would like to be able to find help for him.  I applied for free heart surgery for him through a surgical mission, but they require a 2-D echo for which I could not pay.  Can you please help me?

My first son has degenerative disease of the eyes and two ophthalmologists already warned that he will lose his sight around 21 years old. He is 19 years old now.  His vision is blurred and he is depressed because he cannot help me earn income for the family. My second son has hyperthyroidism and rheumatic heart disease.  My third son has true hermaphroditism and also rheumatic heart disease.  My fifth child, my only daughter, has a very rapid heartbeat, for which I have not yet sought medical diagnosis because I could not afford a diagnostic test for her. 

I am a food vendor, a single parent.  I can provide food and shelter for my children, but I can barely pay for their medical care.  Please help me.


G.F.

_______________________________ 

A kind nurse informed me that your office helps sick children.  My child is two years old and he has acute leukemia.  He is currently on the first phase of treament.  The doctor advised me that he will need P227,278.00 for three years of treatment.  I have already spent P21,850 .00,  but I am finding it difficult to raise the total amount needed because I am an ordinary technician in a fishing company.   Can you help us, please?

R.V.

A Plea from Basilan

Dear Friends in Christ,


Today, December 7, 2011, we received a text message from a local retired doctor based in Basilan, as quoted below, asking for some support to start her charitable clinic which will pave the way to provide free health care access to the local community.

"Good afternoon I am "Dra. B", President of East side Barangay Senior Citizen Association and a past president of our Basilan Rotary Club.  They gave me your number if I need some medical instruments and medical supplies. We have put up a health center clinic at our barangay hall. Just a small room for me and midwife to do a consultation and check up for pregnant  women in our barangay.

I am a retired Provincial Health Officer and Chief of Our General Hospital. I just do these things for free. We are in need of two stethoscopes, two sphygmomanometer, syringes, scalpel, different forceps, suturing needles, gauzes, plaster, surgical scissors, betadine and other needs for emergencies of a small clinic in order for me and our senior citizen to be of help to our barangay and community.

I would be very grateful as well as our community if you could give us these things we needed.

Please kindly help us. Thank you and God bless."

If you are interested or know anyone who is willing to spare some of these materials for her clinic, please let us know. :) 

Thank you very much for your generosity.

God bless! 

November 24, 2011 - Medical Mission in the Marsh

The organizer and the locals

Floating houses of the marsh built on stilts.

Five hours drive from General Santos City and 30 minutes boat ride (speed boat running at 70kilometers per hour) is what it takes to reach this mission area. It was once an MILF infested area, where hostages of the most hostile kidnappings were recovered and houses were built on stilts about 3 meters above the water.

Our mode of transportation going to the
mission area.

The mission venue. Barangay captain's house
that also functions as  the barangay hall.

A small medical team from Department of Health ARMM (Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao) and ACIM Asia went for a medical civic action program initiated by the 11^th Special Force of the Philippine Army in Barangay Katamlangan, Sultan Kudarat last November 24, 2011. The barangay is discreetly located in a marsh Moslim community that is only reached through water transportation such as the boats/speed boats.   

Civil Affairs Team of US Army also joined the activity of the 11^th Special Force that is a special unit of Philippine Army who maintained the peace and order development in the area. It was held in the house of the barangay captain, which is also the hall of the barangay.

Patients coming into the mission site to
avail of the free medical services.

Assessment and Registration area.

Department of Health ARMM and ACIM Asia provided medical volunteers, and medicines that were used in the mission. There was only one doctor who served, but she managed to cater 150 medical patients, who paddled their way to avail of the free consultation, health assessment and medications.

Most of the patients are Moslems that were economically marginalized because they are torn by the consistent conflicts between the rebels and the army. They are also situated in a warzone area that is obviously cannot be accessed easily. Generally, a family’s source of income is through fishing, which is also a struggle because it is only the means of survival for almost everyone.

The medical doctor from the DOH,
side by side with the assessment team.

Patients waiting for their names to be
called in the pharmacy. 

This kind of situation places health care as their list priority, not only because it is difficult to be accessed topographically but also they don’t see its necessity. These also results to a high calibre kind of diseases and chief complaints they cannot express. Although there were less people who came, a day is not enough to address their needs.

The special force unit was planning to implement livelihood projects and various civic action programs for these communities, not only to neutralize the conflict but also to provide the people long term empowerment.

November 16, 2011 - A Hand in Hand Mission

The waiting line for the minor surgical.

A medical, dental civic action program was conducted last November 16, 2011 in Provincial Gym of Datu Paglas, Maguindanao, approximately 2 and a half hour travel by land from General Santos City. This event was initiated by the Bravo Company of 33^rd IB, Philippine Army in cooperation with other agencies both governmental and nongovernmental alike to serve the marginalized, conflict afflicted people of the province.

Soldier explains to the patient how she should
take her medicines.

Tremendous support was given by the Local Government unit of Datu Paglas province who provided the meals of the volunteers and logistical support team, while the Integrated Provincial Health Office of Maguindanao and Rural Health Unit of Datu Paglas provided the medical doctors, dentists, nurses, medical technicians, pharmacist and a mobile hospital. The Quijano Hospital from Tacurong and Sultan Kudarat Doctors Hospital provided additional nurses who manned the registration area, while the ACIM Asia had dentists served in the dental area along with the IPHO and military dental team, nurses and auxiliary people who manned the pharmacy.

ACIM Asia team was composed of three dentists, namely Dr. And Dra. Madrid along with their two assistants, Dra. Nisperos and her assistant, Alexandra – Swiss volunteer, Maricar, Sheryl, Aldy, and three other nurses - Mel, Adon, Lourdes.

33^rd IB ensured the safety of the volunteers, the smooth flow of the activities and made sure that all patient needs were catered. 

Medical patients were given some complimentary
 health kits while waiting for their turn to be
examined by medical doctors

The ACIM Asia team with 33rd IB, PA

At the end of the busy day, the team served about 800 medical patients, 195 dental patients, 165 patients were also circumcised while 11 undergone minor surgery. An evaluation was also made to conclude the activity, which was also an avenue for the mayor to recognize each partner agency who gave some comment about the activity.