BAUKO, Mountain Province – A group of medical professionals from different organizations conducted a medical mission in Bauko, Mountain Province recently focusing on providing assistive devices such as prostheses, wheelchairs, walker canes, and body braces to patients who were assessed for their needs last December 2022.
This event was a collaboration between the provincial government of Mountain Province and the Luis Hora Memorial Regional Hospital (LHMRH), with the support of Physicians for Peace Philippines and Manila Physician for Peace Inc.
Dr. Mildred Guimpayan, a physiatrist and head of the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at Baguio General Hospital and Medical Center (BGHMC), led the medical team, which included medical professionals from BGHMC and Manila Physician for Peace Inc. The team conducted the medical assessment for patients with disabilities and provided the assistive devices they needed. The event was attended by 224 persons with disabilities from eight municipalities in Mountain Province.
Dr. Charita Bernardez, Assistant Head of LHMRH, welcomed the patients and the medical team to the event. In her message, she stated that the mission served as a stepping ground for the hospital to establish a community-based rehabilitation program, which would require a physiatrist to operate fully. She expressed her gratitude for the opportunity to be a recipient of this rehabilitation mission.
Dr. Josephine Bundoc, the team leader of Philippine General Hospital “Physician for Peace,” also delivered a message during the event. She expressed that the mission aimed to ease the burdens of PWD families in traveling and emphasized that the mission had already reached Aparri to Jolo to help all PWDs.
Governor Bonifacio C. Lacwasan Jr. expressed his gratitude to the host hospital, doctors, nurses, and staff for their support in the success of the mission. He also pointed out that this program was in line with the Barangay Muna Program, which aims to prioritize the needs of the people. He expressed his care and support for PWDs and emphasized that this was not the last medical mission, but there will be more to come in partnership with Physicians for Peace.
The event was attended by other officials, including the PWD focal person, Sangguniang Panlalawigan Member Henry Bastian, PSWD staff, PGO focal person June Pinayakan, and LHMRH personnel; the Manila Physician for Peace Inc. team Marilyn Casero, Erwin Corpus, Marlon Peregrine, Melign Gotez, Jelrry Alba, and Jose Romero; BGHMC team Alma Grail Lapnawan, and Engr. Nayan Guimpayan. By Cris Abad/JSC
