From MHAM to Calidngan: ‘Operational Tuli’ Medical Mission
The MHAM Community Extension Services Office (CESO) successfully conducted an operation circumcision, locally known as ‘Operation Tuli’, in partnership with the Caduceus Rescue Unit (CRU) to its partner community in Barangay Calidngan, Carcar City, Cebu last May 12, 2017.
A pre-departure pose from MHAM to Calidngan Operation Circumcision Medical Mission
Started at ten o’clock in the morning, eighty-three MHAM students mostly from the first year class responded the call to provide medical mission to indigent young boys in Barangay Calidngan.
The MHAM team leaders with Barangay Calidngan forerunners
Led by CESO Director, Mr. Jarvis Prochina; HR Director, Mr. Pedro Pañares; IT Consultant, Mr. Francisco Bacalla; and Associate Dean, Dr. Allan Librando, the community extension service was actualized in response to the request from a Barangay Resolution requesting MHAM CM to conduct an ‘Operation Tuli’ and to sponsor a novena mass on the occasion of the annual fiesta celebration of San Isidro Labrador Parish in Barangay Calidngan.
With some of the CRU members with Dr. Allan Librando
As stated in Barangay Resolution No. 05 Series of 2017, conducting a free ‘Operation Tuli’ is very helpful especially to the parents who find difficult to send their children to the hospital in order to be circumcised. Hence, the MHAM CRU team mostly from the incoming second year students conducted the medical service to sixty-seven young boys whose sobs made the aspiring doctors more adamant in carrying out their mission inside the covered court.
MHAM freshmen to the rescue…
The said annual feast is held every May 19 to 20 and this year, the barangay officials motioned the resolution for a worthwhile celebration in both cultural and spiritual aspects.
With CESO Director, Mr. Jarvis Prochina…
According to CESO Director Mr. Jarvis Prochina, the said barangay resolution led by Barangay Captain, Mr. Ignacio Ochia, was well-received with a more positive response with the help of the CRU members who went to the venue as early as seven in the morning.
“We have sponsored the novena-mass for their fiesta celebration in honor of San Isidro Ladrador and the medical mission was indeed the MHAM way as part of being our partner in the development of our people and community. The whole day activity was indeed a big help to the partner community to provide medical services to indigent children who needs to be circumcised. We also provided them proper medicines for circumcision”, said Prochina.
The whole day ‘Operation Tuli’ was also in cooperation with some of the Barangay Health Workers (BHW) in Barangay Calidngan who also assisted the entire activity.
In a separate interview with Associate Dean, Dr. Allan Librando, he stated that the medical mission is also bridging the gap between the medical students and the community and at the same time, teaching the students to value the essence of community outreach mentality.
Interview with Associate Dean, Dr. Allan Librando…
“The medical mission was part of exposure to these freshmen students who have passed the Basic Life Support as an entry for membership. They still have to undergo the Advance Life Support and Vertical Rescue seminars as part of the requirements. Last year, I allowed them to handle minor surgeries with workshops that I facilitated, prior to their exposure. I am exposing them to medical missions for them to know how a medical mission is handled and their role in assessing the blood pressure, temperature, knowing the symptoms and chief complaints and treatment as part of their roles in facilitating every medical mission”, said Dr. Librando.
Founded in 2009, the CRU’s vision is to produce a highly capable medical student undertaking rescue operations in times of emergency and disaster. Furthermore, when they become doctors in the future, they will know what to do with expertise and competence. In addition, it is also a way of instilling the sense of commitment and putting the heart to the community and by giving back to the community, it speaks the mission in itself. “As we have already produced graduates from the CRU, they can also open up their own unit based from our CRU program and that’s part of our mission”, he concluded.
Actual operation circumcision scene with MHAM aspiring-doctors
Meanwhile, first year students, Irish Lontoc and Trianni Fabruada shared their experiences during the medical mission in Barangay Calidngan for the first time. As they worked in pairs, these two aspiring-doctors could not contain their accomplishing moments with excitement amidst the pressure and struggle especially in attending to their first patient during the circumcision.
With Irish Lontoc and Trianni Fabruada in an interview
An Industrial Engineering graduate from Far Eastern University but with a heart of service towards others, Irish Lontoc, whose mother is also a physician, wanted to follow the path of her mother and her first year in MHAM is indeed a stepping stone in reaching her ultimate dreams.
“Knowing that the first year in medical school serves as the foundation in gaining knowledge and skills in the medical field, the medical mission was indeed significant to know the proper way in doing the procedure and to practice the skills as we handled the actual patients. At the same time, my goal to become a doctor has been inspired from the way my parents have dedicated their commitments into service through their different chosen field. In the same way, I wanted to be of service to others with the values that my parents have instilled in me and I like to do the same in the field of medicine”, said Lontoc.
Enthusiastically reminding that boys don’t cry…
Trianni Fabruada, on the other hand, also expressed her excitement upon the completion of being part of the medical team in Barangay Calidngan. A graduate of BS in Medical Technology, she is also looking forward to become a full-pledged doctor like her cousin. “It was a fulfilling moment in taking part of a medical mission which was aimed to benefit the indigent children and I look forward to learn more skills through different experiences on the field”, said Fabruada in an interview.
CRU to the rescue…
The operation circumcision mission which is usually done during summer vacation is also part of MHAM CESO’s continuing efforts to provide basic healthcare services to its partner community. Amidst the audible cries from among the young boys during the ‘Operation Tuli’, the circumcision, however, is a painless minor surgical procedure.
The CRU team with the Barangay Health Workers
L-R: Carcar City Councilor, Hon. Rogelio Montesclaros; Associate Dean, Dr. Allan Librando; HR Director, Mr. Pedro Pañares; CESO Director, Mr. Jarvis Prochina; and IT Consultant, Mr. Francisco Bacalla
Carcar City Councilor, Hon. Rogelio Montesclaros was also present during the medical mission together with the Barangay Health Workers.
“We did it, simply because WEAREMHAM”…
The MHAM medical team completed the mission at four in the afternoon with visible elated smiles from the CRU members who successfully carried out their mission, bringing home the sense of commitment in serving the humanity and in reaching out to the least fortunate ones. (Ana Liza Abao)
MHAM aspiring doctors in the mission field…