Foundation for Philippine Medical Missions |
2022: Alaminos
October 2022
3.5 mission days
Services included: Outpatient physician consults (wild variety of conditions and illnesses addressed); Vision clinic (prescription and reading glasses, exams, consults); Dental clinic (dentures, extractions, preventive procedures); Pharmacy; Lectures
The Foundation for Philippine Medical Missions, following a ’time out’ due to Covid from January 2020 thru September of 2022, was once again active in the Philippines by conducting a medical mission in Alaminos on the island of Luzon in October of 2022. With Covid restrictions still in place in the Philippines it was not possible to hold a major and/or minor surgery clinic but all other clinics (see list above) were held. It was a wonderful partnership between FPMM, the local community, and the local government officials. Over the 3.5 days the clinics were open nearly 7,500 Filipinos were served and received the following services: Doctor Consults, Eye Glasses, Eye exams and consults, Dentures, Extractions, Preventative Dental Care, Pharmacy services, Mental Health services, and a variety of educational lectures. Over 2,300 patients were seen in the outpatient clinic, 4,000 plus received services in the eye clinic, 700+ dental patients were seen with 150 receiving dentures, 500 participated in a variety of lectures. Previously, FPMM had held a medical mission in Alaminos in 2012 with a focus at that time being doctor consults, pharmacy services, and dental procedures. Being able to re-introduce our medical mission work in the Philippines following the Covid pandemic was celebrated by everyone and was a definitely a success. The people of Alaminos were indeed grateful and “thanks” in abundance could be heard.
2020: Catarman, Northern Samar
Catarman 2020: It is good to do good.
In 2020, FPMM will be in Catarman, Northern Samar, Philippines. Preparations are already underway to ensure the success of the 2020 mission. Your involvement and support are always appreciated and needed for FPMM to be able to achieve its mission of providing free medical care to in-need communities in the Philippines.
Volunteer applications are now available. Download and submit by July 15, 2019. Interested individuals are also highly encouraged to attend the Catarman 2020 Medical Mission Informational Meeting on June 8, 2019. More details are on the Events page.
Please regularly visit the FPMM website and follow @FPMMorg on Facebook and Instagram for updates on the #Catarman2020 medical mission.
2019: Lianga, Surigao del Sur
Mission to Give
As a dedicated FPMM missionary and volunteer, it was Scott Nelson’s dream to support a birthing center in Lianga, Surigao del Sur. With Scott’s recent passing, FPMM, in partnership with the Calo family and local government, honored his memory and service by helping fulfil his dream. FPMM conducted a medical missionin Lianga, Surigao del Sur in February 2019, while also equipping the birthing center with its much needed equipment and supplies.
In only 2.5 clinic days, FPMM was able to serve more than 2,000 patients in the Outpatient clinic, more than 800 patients in the Dental clinic, and almost 4,000 eyeglasses were given away. Most of the patients who came to the clinic had complex medical conditions but did not have the resources to receive adequate medical care.
The success of this medical mission was made possible by the support of the Nelson and Calo families; the local government units led by Mayor Pedroso; and donors, partners, and volunteers who have worked hard and shared their time, money, and skills to ensure the success of this medical mission. FPMM is grateful for all your support, especially for this special medical mission to honor our dear friend and fellow missionary, Scott Nelson.
Carmelita and Kyle Nelson outside the birthing center
Waiting outside the Outpatient Clinic
Carmelita and Kyle Nelson with Michael Calo outside the Outpatient Clinic
2018: Bais City, Negros Oriental
FPMM, together with its Bais Medical Mission partners—the Negrenses del Oriental de Minnesota—successfully completed a weeklong mission to Bais City in the province of Negros Oriental in February 2018. A team of more than 100 volunteers, both medical and non-medical, traveled over 8,000 miles to provide medical care to almost 17,000 residents of Bais City and its surrounding communities. Some of the services provided include the following.
- Outpatient clinic
- Diabetic testing and education
- Dental clinic
- Fluoride treatments to school children
- Pharmacy
- Eye glasses
- GYN surgery (e.g., hysterectomies, tubal ligations, etc.)
- ENT surgery (e.g., goiters)
- Plastic surgery (e.g., cleft lip, cleft palate, etc.)
During the medical mission, five pediatric patients were also identified as needing more complex medical and surgical care, beyond the capabilities of the medical mission. FPMM teamed up with the Negrenses del Oriental de Minnesota and local and regional government officials and organizations and worked tirelessly beyond the weeklong medical mission to connect the patients to medical professionals who could provide the care these patients needed. With the help of 20@20, a local Philippine organization with the mission to provide free cardiac surgical care to patients in need, and its co-founder, Dr. Jonas Del Rosario, three of these patients underwent life-saving cardiac surgeries. The other two patients underwent vision-sparing glaucoma surgeries. All surgeries and post-surgical care were performed at little to no cost to the patients and their families.
Watch a short video of the Bais 2018 medical mission: