Joint RC Makati-PGH Surgical Missions Benefit 56 Patients
October 6, 2008, Makati City
By Rtn Boy Hilvano, RC Makati

The Rotary Club of Makati teamed up with the Philippine General Hospital for two in-hospital surgical missions that benefited 56 indigent patients. The first was a choleceptectomy (removal of gallstones), which benefited 24 patients on Sep. 13, while the other was a herniotomy (surgery for juvenile hernia) done for 32 patients last Sep. 20, 2008.

The free surgeries were conducted by RCM’s Medical Missions Committee chaired by Rtn. Boy Hilvano under the leadership of Pres. Larry Boyer. They were performed by a full complement of volunteer UP-PGH surgeons, interns, anesthesiologists and nurses.

These free in-hospital surgeries are part of the three long-running projects of the club, which started shortly after Boy Hilvano, also a surgeon at PGH, joined RCM in 1989. The surgeries are usually scheduled on the third Saturday of each month, although sometimes done more frequently to reduce the backlog of cases at the state hospital, as was the case the past two weeks. Patients generally belong to low-income families who cannot afford the surgery.

Rotarians are welcome to refer indigent patients to the RCM’s Medical Missions Committee by calling the club secretariat at telephone numbers 899-7863 to 65, Local 104.