Our service never ends… Physicians for Peace Philippines (PFPP), through partnership with Rotary International District 3820 (RI D3820), went to Lipa City, Batangas last August 31 to provide their people with quality health service on Mobility, Vision, and Maternal Health Screening.

The Rotary Club of Lipa South, led by President Gerald Villa, graciously organized and hosted the mission which was held at the provincial hospital of Lipa City.

PFPP brought its Walking Free team for prosthesis, wheelchair and assistive devices assessment as well as its Seeing Clearly team for error of refraction and cataract patient screening.

During the mission, patients were assessed and evaluated by our rehab doctor, wheelchair assessors & technicians and PO technicians for prosthesis and appropriate assistive devices, provided to us by Latter Day Saints Charities (LDSC), to help them with their injury or disability.

One of the patients was Philip, a 10-year old boy diagnosed with cerebral palsy and epilepsy since birth. Philip has continuously used his stroller as a wheelchair and now that he outgrew it, PFPP is here to give him a new and right wheelchair for his condition.

For his parents, Philip was the greatest miracle of their lives. He was almost dead when he was born, they kept praying for his life and thankfully their prayers were heard from above and the doctor was able to revive him.

Although he is special, Philip has a very positive outlook in life. He is very loving sibling to her brother and sister and feels happy whenever he gets to watch other kids playing outside their house.

PFPP also met Lola Justina, an 85-year old maiden, at the mission site. Lola Justina who lives with her younger sister who is still a maiden as well, fractured her shoulder bone when she accidently fell while cleaning inside their house.

For three years now, Lola Justina has been in bed every day and is being taken care by her relative that resides near their home. She can still undergo an operation but Lola Justina does not want to be subjected to any more pain.

Like Philip, Lola Justina was assessed and evaluated and was given appropriate wheelchair from PFPP so that she can move easily and be out of her bed from time to time.

Furthermore, PFPP also did error of refraction to patients and screening for cataract patients during the mission. Our optometrists and ophthalmologists were busy the whole day as patients kept on coming.

PFPP was able to refract all of the patients and 240 of them will be receiving their prescription eyeglasses to improve their sight and 46 patients were assessed for cataract surgery and will be referred to the nearest eye clinic for operation.

Among the hundreds of patients was 32-year old Chain Key. Back in 2000, she suffered from a severe illness and was diagnosed with trichiasis, the ingrown or introversion of the eyelashes. During her recuperation, Chain Key experienced constant “pagkapuwing” and blurring of vision. She decided to have her eyelashes cauterized but after some time, the eyelashes grew again and keeps poking her eyeballs.

Since then, Chain Key has been using eyeglasses to keep her sensitive eyes from irritation. The ophthalmologist advised her to have a minor eye operation to address her trichiasis while PFPP will be providing her with new prescription eyeglasses for her everyday use.

Being able to help these people, gives us so much joy and fulfillment as we work on serving humanity in the Philippine archipelago. PFPP would like to thank the Rotacry Clubs and Rotary International D3820, under the leadership of District Governor Evette Olivan, and as our partnership continues, PFPP will be holding another health care mission in Lucena, Quezon this coming October.

 

[All photos were taken with consent of patient’s parents and/or guardians]

 

 

This time in Lipa Batangas with our continuing partnership with Rotary District 3820 and RC Lipa South, doing what we know best…. Physicians for Peace Healthcare mission on Vision, mobility, hearing, and Women’s health screening! #doinggoodiscontagious #togethermuchcanbedone

Happy moments with fellow Rotary Governors from RID3820 and fellow Rotarians from RC Lipa South at the opening ceremony of the PFP Rotary Healthcare mission in Lipa City, Batangas.

#thankyouRotary #thankyouPhysiciansforpeace

So heartwarming when you see this kid, joy overflowing in his heart, when he got his wheelchair today. Philip is 10 and first time to use a wheelchair. His parents used to piggyback him to school. One of the 41 wheelchair recipients in today’s mission in Lipa Batangas with Rotary club Lipa South. With permission from parents to post. Thank you Latter Day Saints Charities for the wheelchairs and other mobility devices. #physiciansforpeaceph