234 PATIENTS BENEFIT FROM 5-DAY FREE CATARACT MISSION
Dr. Mario Reyes, an ophthalmologist, has been doing free eye care services in different places over the Philippines From Cebu City, Dr. Reyes’ team will go to the Province of Bohol and in Barili town, Cebu next month to do the mission
It is a noble act when one renders quality service for free especially to those in need.
Daylinda de los Reyes, 62, from Cansojong, Talisay is one of the many hopefuls who want their eyes to be checked and to be cleared of other ailments.
She said that she heard of a medical mission, a free cataract consultation and operation after it was announced in their parish last year.
She said that she already brought 20 people on the mission who regained back their sight.
She also said that she is thankful for the mission, and that sacrifice and ride fare are their only concerns to be able to avail themselves of the free services.
Dr. Mario Reyes, an ophthalmologist, has been doing free eye care services in different places over the Philippines.
Raise Me Up (RMU), a prayer counseling group where most of its members are part of the Bukas-Loob sa Diyos (BLD) community, has been vital in collaborating with him to be able to reach more patients in his mission, and to extend help to those in need.
Reyes has partnered with the Cataract Foundation of the Philippines, and the Germany-based Christian Blind Mission (CBM) for the mission.
Reyes is the only doctor who does the free operations with the help of his team and some volunteers.
The first cataract mission started in Assumpta Technical High School in San Simon, Pampanga last February 2017 that benefited 19 patients.
He also did missions in Zamboanga, Batangas, Muntinlupa and many others.
It is their 8th mission since last year.
Hi group conducted the first mission in Cebu at the St. Therese of the Child Jesus Parish in Barangay Lahug, Cebu City with at least 190 beneficiaries.
Missions
They also held missions at the Sacred Heart Shrine Parish on D. Jakosalem St., with 225 beneficiaries; Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Parish (OLSHP)on Escario St.; Sto. Tomas de Villanueva Parish in Danao City; and in the northern tip town of San Remigio.
The latest mission was conducted at the OLSHP for the third time. It started on Feb. 5 and lasted until Feb. 10.
This time, there were 27 patients who were treated for pterygium and 107 people for cataract.
Glaucoma and strabismus or cross-eyed patients are also treated in the mission.
Patients qualified for the operations were given rosary and rosary guides by RMU members while waiting for their turn.
Jose Castro, RMU member said that, “kaning among tuyo dili lang physical healing, kundi spiritual healing.”
According to Castro, physical and spiritual must grow together.
“In a matter of five to 10 minutes, a patient is done, cataracts removed, a lens implant is placed, the patient is seeing immediately, and can stand up and walk away,” said Reyes.
During the last day of the mission, all the beneficiaries went back to the site for their eye bandages to be removed and are given final instructions for their eye care.
Every mission is followed-up after two weeks where patients would be asked to come again to the mission site for check-up, said Reyes.
According to Reyes, an eye operation may range from P45,000 to P100,000 depending on the technique and material to be used.
Richard Alabat, 55, a pterygium patient from Canduman Housing, Mandaue said “Nalipay mi nga naay medical mission, eye operation nga mitabang namo kay pila nako ka tuig walay trabaho kay hanap akong panan-aw, maglisud ko’g trabaho.”
Alabat hopes that with his renewed sight he would be able to go back to working as a painter.
“I can attest to his generosity, his simplicity, also his expertise. He doesn’t seem to get tired, he just goes on and on starting at eight in the morning, and then stops just to take his lunch and then he goes all the way to two o’clock in the morning,” Bishop Dennis Villarojo, auxiliary bishop of Cebu and OLSHP team moderator.
Reyes said that the next mission is set in Bohol Province and in the southern town of Barili, Cebu next month. /