ANTIQUE – A four-day free Medical, Dental and Surgical Mission officially began on February 16 in the province of Antique, spearheaded by the Antique Provincial Health Office in partnership with the University of the Philippines Medical Alumni Society in America, UP Manila, and the Philippine Tuberculosis Society Inc.
The outreach mission runs until today, February 19, with services being held at the Binirayan Gymnasium and the Angel Salazar Memorial General Hospital.
In an interview, Irene Dulduco, Health Education and Promotion Officer, said the medical team targets to serve at least 300 patients per day for various medical services. These include OB-GYN consultation, pediatric consultation, ophthalmology consultation, neurology consultation, internal medicine consultation, and active case finding through X-ray.
Of the 300 daily patients, all will receive medical consultation and appropriate treatment during check-ups, while 200 individuals are allocated for daily X-ray services at the Binirayan Gymnasium.
The Dental Mission, meanwhile, is being conducted at the Angel Salazar Memorial General Hospital. Dulduco said slots are limited, with 100 patients accommodated daily for tooth extraction, another 100 for dental cleaning, and 20 for tooth restoration procedures.
Free minor surgical operations are also offered for patients with small lumps or growths and other conditions requiring minor procedures. Slots remain available for minor surgeries.
However, Dulduco clarified that slots for major surgeries—such as removal of neck masses and other serious conditions—are limited, with only 45 to 50 cases to be accommodated throughout the four-day mission.
The initiative aims to bring essential healthcare services closer to Antiqueños, particularly those who have limited access to medical and dental care./PN
