ICM joins Smart, Operation Smile to treat cleft patients
Efforts to treat more cleft patients have been boosted as PLDT mobile subsidiary Smart Communications Inc. and Operation Smile Philippines welcome the support of International Care Ministries Inc. (ICM) into the advocacy. Only recently, training on the Operation Smile app was conducted by Smart for ICM’s community medical case coordinators (MCCs), who will be using the program as they carry out medical missions all over the country.
The Operation Smile app, which has been conceptualized by Smart, records patient information and helps monitor their treatment progress. The information stored on the app is uploaded to the database of Operation Smile, helping the organization plan their missions efficiently.
“Operation Smile believes in patientcentered care, and that approach requires people who are nearest to the patients. Using the technology developed by Smart, and the grassroots network of ICM, we can work toward a future where there is no child living with an untreated cleft,” said Timothy Lu, Operation Smile Philippines strategic partnerships director.
“We’re very excited about this partnership because it will multiply our ability to bring treatment to more cleft patients,” said Dr. Raija Amayun, ICM clinical and medical director, adding the online database would help ease the workload of the MCCs and allow them to accommodate more patients.
“Smart works with other organizations to advance its ‘technology for development’ initiatives. This partnership with Operation Smile and ICM is one of our key alliances in further addressing health gaps in the country,” said Ramon Isberto, PLDT and Smart public affairs head.