City to conduct free elective surgeries

THE city government of Cagayan de Oro will soon conduct elective surgeries for deserving residents in the city. This, as the 20th City Council during its 37th regular session presided over by City Vice Mayor Jocelyn B. Rodriguez enacted an ordinance authorizing City Mayor Rolando A. Uy to enter into and sign the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the Cure Philippines for the purpose.

The Gavel learned that the surgeries include cosmetic procedures like removing a mole or wart as well as serious conditions like hernia surgery, removing kidney stones, appendix and hip replacement. Cure Philippines is a charitable organization specializing in orthopedic surgeries that have seen thousands of patients and performed life-changing surgeries since its operation in the country less than ten years ago. The organization will be providing elective surgeries for children of various categories or adults on an exceptional basis.

Under the MOA, Cure Philippines is committed to providing orientations of Tebow Cure Children’s Hospital of the Philippines programs and services; shall provide periodic mobile clinic teams composed of doctors, nurses, and other staff. It shall also provide a focal person for coordination with patient clinic appointments and surgery schedules, among others.

For its part, the city through the City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO) will identify the patients for mobile clinics per barangays; provide a venue for the mobile clinics, food/snacks to the identified patients and watchers during mobile clinics, and provide transport vehicle or transportation allowance to qualified patients during the clinic.

If needed, the city through the City Health Office (CHO) will also facilitate laboratory, x-ray, and diagnostic tests needed by the patients during the mobile clinic. The legislation was sponsored by the committees on health, nutrition, and health insurance chaired by Councilor Maria Lourdes S. Gaane with Councilor Joyleen Mercedes L. Balaba as vice-chair, and on laws and rules chaired by Councilor Edgar S. Cabanlas, respectively.