KDF to conduct surgery mission on board US Navy ship in Zambales

BACOLOR — The Kapampangan Development Foundation (KDF) will be hosting the Operation Smile (OS) mission on August 5 to 13 for indigent cleft lip and cleft palate patients on board the US Navy Mercy Ship for the International Surgical Mission in Subic, Zambales.

KDF Trustee Sylvia Ordonez told Sun.Star Pampanga that the hosts and organizers are the Rotary International (RI) District 3790 and the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority ( SBM A) .

The US Navy Mercy Ship will dock in Subic and will operate on 100 cleft lip/palate patients who will come from Region III and the rest of Northern Luzon.

Rotarian May Shilton, the overall mission coordinator, a past president of the Rotary Club of Mabalacat, said the patients are requested to come to the SBMA Gymnasium (located near the SBMA main gate) on August 5 for the final screening and decking.

After the August 5 screening, the mission organizing secretariat will be located at the SBMA Convention Center.

This is also where the patients will be accommodated prior to boarding the US Navy Mercy Ship which will dock in Subic.

Free transportation to Subic will be provided to patients who can come to the KDF-Jesus A. Datu Medical Center (JADMC) located in Barangay San Vicente in Bacolor town on August 5.

“We are calling on everyone to do his share by helping find Cleft lip/palate patients for the US Navy Mercy Ship International Surgical Mission,” Ordonez said.

The Kapampangan Development Foundation (KDF) is a non-profit, nonstock NGO that promotes health, education and livelihood programs

for the less fortunate communities of Pampanga and Region III. The Operation Smile is an international organization that mobilizes resources and volunteers to organize international missions to do cleft lip and palate surgeries. The Rotary International District 3790, headed by Governor Mai Ocampo and Governor elect Raul Peralta and the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority are the local organizing partners/hosts. Rotary dedicates itself to humanitarian programs such as cleft lip/palate missions. The SBMA promotes industries, trade and commerce in Luzon. In addition, SBMA has social action activities that it considers its Community Social Responsibility (CSR) program to help the less fortunate communities of Northern Luzon. “We appeal to all civic minded groups like media, academics, DSWD, local government, faith groups, churches and all citizens to do their share in helping find cleft lip/palate patients to help them start a new life,” Ordonez said. Cleft lip/palate patients who are operated on at an early stage (six months and above) have a better chance of recovering their facility to speak 100 percent, Ordonez added. Interested parties may visit the KDF office in Barangay San Vicente in Bacolor town.