US Volunteers Perform Surgeries In ‘Operation Blessing’

At least 57 volunteers comprised of doctors, nurses and some youth participants from different US states came to Cebu to provide medical services.

The delegation came through Operation Blessing Foundation Philippines that conducted a 5-day surgical mission in partnership with the Philippine-American Association of Connecticut.

The surgical mission was a whole week of “Operation Blessing” at the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center, from March 14-18.

“We are here to help and serve, making a difference in the ways that we know and not taking the glory,” said Dr. Gino Ang, the representative of the group.

Governor Hilario Davide III thanked Ang for bringing a whole team of doctors and nurses to Cebu, since health is the top agenda of the governor’s administration.

Ang mentioned they performed procedures on hip replacement, hip fractures, club feet, goiter, hernia, and strabismus, among others.

The only Filipino in the team, Ang said they brought their own medical equipment and medicines for their patients. The equipment they were not able to bring with them, they bought locally. Equipment bought in Cebu will be donated to VSMMC. “We plan to leave what we brought so the hospital can use it,” Ang added.

The team also had a 2-day immersion at the Missionaries of the Poor, giving away clothes, toys, and food.

The mission also served not just Cebu province but also some other provinces in the Visayas.

By Cris Lanie Delos Reyes

www.cebu.gov.ph