Yolanda survivors get help from SLMC-Guam joint mission
The Guam Medical Association (GMA) partnered with St. Luke’s Medical Center (SLMC) to conduct one of its biggest offshore relief missions to date, the joint medical mission for the victims of the recent super typhoon Yolanda.
GMA sent a contingent of 30 medical doctors, nurses and paramedical staff along with a bulk of medicines, medical supplies and equipment. St. Luke’s, on the other hand, provided counterpart medicines and manpower from their Marketing Group. The joint undertaking was an extensive one-week medical mission in the northernmost part of Cebu which was the most devastated portion of the island.
Lying opposite Leyte’s Tacloban City, North Cebu was one of the worst hit by the typhoon where human and property casualties were enormous. The Joint GMA-SLMC Medical Mission trekked to DaangBantayan which was officially identified as 100% damaged, and the nearby San Remigio and Sogod towns which had a total population of 180,000.
Despite the far flung distance where electricity, clean running water and communications were unavailable, the mission served 3,000 patients through a range of services that included surgery, OBgynecology, dental, general medicine, pediatrics, among others. After the mission, the team also turned over to local health officials a good quantity of medicines and health supplies for the residents.
GMA president Dr. Thomas Shieh who was with the team expressed his satisfaction over the accomplishments of the mission and cited how the Guamanians and the Filipinos have a long history of brotherly ties that must be nurtured especially in trying times.
Guam Member of Congress Madeleine Bordallo, in her letter to St. Luke’s president and CEO Dr. Edgardo Cortez, lauded St. Luke’s for its support to the mission and reaffirmed the Guam Island Community’s solidarity with the Philippines in the relief and rescue efforts for the victims of Yolanda.