PH-Laos Friendship Cleft Mission Helps 49 Lao Patients
(From left, seated) Philippine Ambassador Belinda Ante, Lao Ministry of National Defense Medical Corps Department Deputy Head Colonel Khamphaiy Phansili, and Philippine Band of Mercy Medical Director Dr. Hector Santos show their support along with Smile Train Philippines, Smile Train Laos and Hospital 103 medical personnel during the opening ceremony of the first Philippines-Laos Friendship Cleft Mission held on 26 August 2018. (Vientiane PE photo)
VIENTIANE 07 September 2018 – The Philippine Band of Mercy (PBM) and Smile Train Philippines conducted the first Philippines-Laos friendship Cleft Mission at the Lao Military Hospital 103 in Vientiane, Laos on 25-30 August 2018.
The medical mission was organized by the Philippine Embassy in Vientiane, in cooperation with the Medical Corps Department of the Lao Ministry of National Defense, and with assistance from the Global Shapers Vientiane Hub, an informal civil society organization in Laos which helped identify Lao patients for the mission.
During the opening ceremony held on 26 August 2018, PBM Medical Director and chief plastic surgeon/head of the medical team Dr. Hector Santos expressed his optimism that the project would enhance bilateral relations between the Philippines and Laos in the health sector, as well as his hope that the project would be the first among many future medical missions of PBM and Smile Train in Laos.
The medical mission saw two Philippine plastic surgeons, three anesthesiologists, and two nurses conduct cleft lip/palate surgeries on 49 Lao patients from Vientiane Capital and the other Lao provinces from 27 to 29 August 2018.
During the operations, the Philippine medical team conducted on-site lectures and practical training for the Lao doctors and nurses who assisted during the surgeries.
Dr. Santos and former Surgeon General of the Philippines Dr. Joseph Acosta also held a comprehensive training seminar on 30 August 2018 for Hospital 103 medical personnel, teaching them on the biological and environmental causes of cleft lip and cleft palate, treatments for these conditions, as well as medical skills and knowledge related to cleft lip/palate surgical operations.
After the seminar, Hospital 103 Medical Director Colonel Souliphanh Phetchanthala conveyed his appreciation to the Philippine medical team and expressed the wish of the Lao doctors, nurses, and patients for the return of the medical team in the near future. In turn, the medical team conveyed their assurances of continuing such missions in the future. END
Nurse Paul Vincent Jayme conducts a pre-operation orientation lecture for the Lao cleft lip/palate patients and their relatives. (Vientiane PE photo)
Dr. Joseph Acosta, assisted by Lao doctors and nurses, operates on a cleft palate patient. (Vientiane PE photo)
Dr. Joseph Acosta conducts a training seminar on cleft lip/palate surgery for Lao doctors and nurses at the Lao Military Hospital 103. (Vientiane PE photo)
For more information, visit www.vientianepe.dfa.gov.ph or https://www.facebook.com/philippineembassy.vientiane.54?fref=search.