ANTIQUE — Hundreds of patients in Antique received much-needed medical care through a free surgical mission conducted by the World Surgical Foundation Philippines (WSFP) in partnership with the Provincial Government of Antique from April 21 to 24.
The initiative, held at the Angel Salazar Memorial General Hospital (ASMGH), provided life-changing surgical services to indigent patients who otherwise could not afford treatment.
Antique Gov. Paolo Javier underscored the provincial government’s commitment to making healthcare accessible, especially for underserved communities.
“This initiative reflects our continued effort to bring essential medical services closer to our people, especially those who cannot afford hospitalization. Through partnerships like this, we are able to extend life-changing care to more Antiqueños,” Javier said.
Volunteer doctors from WSFP conducted final screenings for patients on April 22, preparing them for surgery.
Among the beneficiaries was seven-year-old Gerald Noble Jr. from Barangay Santiago, Laua-an, who had been waiting for a year to undergo surgery for inguinal hydrocele, a condition characterized by fluid buildup in the groin area.
His mother expressed gratitude for the opportunity to avail of the free procedure.
“Gapasamat gid kami kay dako guid nga bulig sa amon nga libre nga medical mission,” she said.
Another patient, 60-year-old Avelina Domingo from Barangay Linaban, Hamtic, was scheduled for surgery to remove recurring gallbladder polyps.
“Dati nag-take lang ako ng medicine. Buhay ron tapos eh kadya nag balik tana ti amo ron to nga ipa-opera ,” Domingo shared.
Domingo also noted that she did not incur out-of-pocket expenses for laboratory tests, as these were covered by the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation through its Yaman ng Kalusugan Program (YAKAP), in coordination with accredited facilities.
In addition to surgical services, the mission also offered free circumcision for walk-in patients. The Office of the Provincial Health Officer allocated 40 slots, with procedures conducted at the ASMGH Out-Patient Department.
The activity highlights the importance of collaborative healthcare efforts in addressing medical needs at the grassroots level, particularly for patients who have long awaited treatment./PN