LA TRINIDAD, Benguet, Philippines - Indigent patients from all over the country suffering from cleft palate, harelips, and burns underwent reconstructive surgery at the Benguet General Hospital (BeGH) under foreign surgeons and Filipino medical staff. Foreign surgeons and anesthesiologists from Interplast Australia and New Zealand started the reconstructive surgery last Thursday, targeting to treat over 70 patients by November 10, the last day of operations. The reconstructive surgery and operations are being conducted at the operating room of the BeGH in this capital town. Dr. Joseph Cabinta, BeGH administrator, said an initial of 68 patients, mostly children, who came all the way from the remotest towns in the country qualified to undergo surgery and dozens were already operated on as Saturday.
Cabenta thanked the Interplast team composed of surgeons Dr. Peter Haertsch and James Leong with anesthetists Dr. Alan Wallace and Lindsay McBride and nurses Michelle Skrivanic and Sally Howard. The BeGH administrator also thanked the private partners for making the reconstructive surgery mission a success. The private partners are the Save Our School Children Foundation, Inc. (SOSCFI) Children Foundation, Inc. (SOSCFI), Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and Cabrini Foundation. BeGH offered its facilities, including its specialists, anesthesiologists, nurses and other staff to help the Interplast team. Dr. Paz Camdas is the head of the BeGH team. Interplast Australia and New Zealand is a charity that sends teams of volunteer plastic and reconstructive surgeons, anesthetists and nurses to developing countries in the Asia Pacific Region to provide free treatment and medical training. (Rizaldy Comanda)
