Rotary Club of Cebu Fuente brings medical missions to barangays

CEBU, Philippines - Rotarians from all over the world ushered in Rotary Year 2012-2013 with the theme “Peace Through Service.” It is in this spirit that the Rotary Club of Cebu Fuente (RCCF) - District 3860 collaborated and worked with different organizations for their various projects and medical missions. 

Since April 2012 - together with their Partners-In-Service - RCCF has participated in several major activities aimed at promoting health and improving the lives of residents of communities that they serve.

Summertime being the perfect time to conduct a medical mission/Operation Tuli, last April 28, the RCCF Rotarians, headed by president Tina Bacalso and the Rotaract Club of Cebu Fuente-Community Based (RACCF) gave their all-out support to the Philippine Institute of Civil Engineers headed by PICE National Director Engr. Ador G. Canlas, PICE president-Cebu Chapter Engr. Daisy B. Toledo, and other PICE officers by volunteering in the medical mission/ Operation Tuli held at the USJ-R, Basak Campus. They were able to serve a total of 108 out of the 140 young boys who registered. 

Less than a week later, on May 1, 2012, the tireless members of RCCF and RACCF-Comm Based traveled all the way to Santa Fe, Bantayan town for a Medical Community Outreach held the next day at the local gymnasium. 

Organized by Singapore-based organizations, LIFE! Community Development headed by Pat Loh and Paglaum headed by Marisol Foley, the aim of the mission was to provide free basic medical services, including medicines, to the residents of Santa Fe and neighboring areas. 

The ever-reliable past president of RCCF, Dr. Julio Gonzales and some Rotaractor-nurses were part of the team of medical professionals and volunteers who unselfishly gave their time to provide medical services to the more than 200 residents of Santa Fe, young and old alike, who came seeking medical attention. 

It was through Ms. Foley that RCCF’s participation in the mission was made possible.

A few days before summer officially came to a close, RCCF and RACCF-Comm Based braved the rough roads on a very humid day on May 19, 2012 as they spearheaded a medical mission and Operation Tuli in barangay Tubod, Sibonga, Cebu. 

This was a large-scale mission held in Tubod Elementary School in partnership with the Philippine College of Surgeons (PCS) and Philippine Society of General Surgeons (PSGS) headed by Dr. Shawn Espina and the local government officials of Barangay Tubod.

RCCF provided manpower, medicines, medical and other supplies and coordinated with other organizations that helped in this mission while the PCS and PSGS provided some of the medical team and medical services. 

Aside from Operation Tuli which served 75 patients, other services rendered were eye consultation to 120 patients by the medical team from the VSMMC Eye Center headed by RCCF’s Jane Frias, minor surgery (cyst removal) to 12 patients, and medical consultations to a total of 150 adults and children. 

Other organizations who volunteered in the mission were Qualfon, headed by RCCF’s Maricel Amores, the REACH teachers headed by Lady Sandra Espina, spouse of RCCF Past District Governor Yumi Espina, and other civic-minded sponsors and friends who just wanted to be part of this activity in one way or the other. – PR (THE FREEMAN)