Second PH-Laos Friendship Cleft Mission Brings More Smiles
Ambassador to Laos Belinda Ante (seated, second from left) with the Philippine Band of Mercy and Smile Train delegation, and Lao medical personnel involved in the second PH-Laos Friendship Cleft Mission held from 02 to 06 September 2019 at the Military Hospital 103 in Vientiane, Laos. (Vientiane PE photo)
VIENTIANE 20 September 2019 — The Philippine Embassy in Vientiane, in coordination with the Medical Corpsman Department of the Lao Ministry of National Defense, and with assistance from the Global Shapers Vientiane Hub, organized the second Philippines-Laos Cleft Mission, which was conducted by the Philippine Band of Mercy (PBM) and Smile Train Philippines from 02 to 06 September 2019 at the Lao Military Hospital 103 in Vientiane, Laos.
During the opening ceremony, Ambassador to Laos Belinda Ante highlighted the mission as a way to strengthen Philippines-Laos diplomatic relations in the fields of military and health cooperation. Lao Ministry of National Defense-Medical Corpsman Department Deputy Chief Colonel Vanpheng Phuangsawaddy expressed her gratitude for the return of the Philippine doctors and expressed hopes that the Lao medical personnel would learn more about medical procedures and skills during the mission.
A total of 38 Lao patients, mostly children, were operated on during the mission. At the same time, the Philippine surgeons conducted on-site lectures and training for the Lao doctors and nurses of the Military Hospital 103 on surgery procedures. The Philippine delegation also followed up on the patients who underwent cleft lip/palate surgery during the first Philippines-Laos Cleft Mission held in August 2018.
During the closing ceremony on 05 September 2019, Philippine delegation head Dr. Hector Santos Jr. expressed his appreciation for the Lao people’s hospitality and for putting their trust on the Philippine doctors. He hoped that PBM and Smile Train Philippines will be invited again in 2020 to conduct another mission.
PBM is a private non-stock, non-profit foundation that was established in 1937 and aims to provide medical assistance to disfigured underprivileged Filipinos. During the mission it collaborated with Smile Train Philippines, a foundation which provides free cleft repair surgery. END
Dr. Hector Santos Jr. (rightmost) lectures Lao doctors on screening requirements and procedures for cleft surgeries. (Vientiane PE photo)
Dr. Mel Anthony Cruz (center in black uniform) conducts hands-on lecture and training on cleft lip surgeries for Lao doctors and nurses. (Vientiane PE photo)
Dr. Santos gives a Certificate of Appreciation to Lao Ministry of National Defense-Medical Corpsman Department Deputy Chief Colonel Vanpheng Phuangsawaddy (right). (Vientiane PE photo)
For more information, visit https://www.vientianepe.dfa.gov.ph or https://www.facebook.com/vientianepe/