Mission Status: Philippines 2014

February 06, 2014

The World Surgical Foundation will be screening patients for its annual surgical mission in the Philippines on 16 February 2014 at General Santos City Hospital. Surgeries are scheduled from 17 to 21 February with eight OR stations operating at the same time. WSF expects to perform at least 250 major procedures in the areas of pediatrics, plastics, urology, ENT, Maxillofacial, OB/GYN, and general as well as any emergency surgeries not already on the pre-screened patient lists plus 50 minor procedures under local anesthesia.

After completing the mission in General Santos City, Drs. Domingo and Veneranda Alvear travel to Cebu City where WSF is holding its 3rd Annual Pull-through Mission, screening patients on 23 February 2014, and performing surgeries from 24 to 26 February. Dr. Alvear and seven local pediatric surgeons working at four OR stations are teaming up on this focused mission. Forty patients with various anorectal malformations are listed for surgery.

World Surgical Foundation continues to hold these pull-through missions because only a limited number of patients can be helped each year. Anorectal malformations occur once in every 4,500 live births, and many of these can be corrected immediately. Patients that are unable to have corrective surgery right away receive a temporary colostomy and may have to wait years or live with a colostomy bag for life. This is where WSF steps in to change their lives by giving them a normal life instead of being ostracized and hiding in shame.