Medical Missions Philippines

Diane Strout (center), Chair of Physicians for Peace's Global Nurse Education Committee, making friends with nurses from Algeria, Philippines, Egypt and Libya during a recent mission to Libya International Medical University in Benghazi.

 

In honor of our 20th anniversary,we have been recognizing those whose work has contributed to the success of Physicians for Peace. It would be impossible to talk about the heroes of medical volunteer work without giving credit to the nurses who devote their time, hard work, and expertise to Physicians for Peace programs.

Nurses are a vital part of every surgery mission, but that is only the beginning of the important contributions they provide. As an organization focused on medical education, we could not do the work we do without the help of volunteer nurses. The Physicians for Peace Global Nurse Education Committee has developed curriculae for teaching a variety of medical skills in resource-poor settings. Creating these replicable programs in medical education has enabled thousands of medical professionals in the developing world to gain life-saving information which they have used to improve the quality of care in their communities. These training programs, which cover everything from midwifery skills to treatment of pediatric burns, have also allowed more volunteers to effectively teach around the world, reaching more people in need.

The Global Nurse Education Committee (GNEC), part of the Physicians for Peace Medical Operations Committee (MOC), is comprised of nurses practicing in a variety of fields, representing hospitals, universities, and medical schools throughout Virginia. But its members are not only concerned with training and academia. They are the ones on the ground in the developing world, working side by side with their in-country counterparts caring for patients, delivering medical supplies and medicines, and helping to establish self-sustaining clinics and treatment centers around the world. These ambassadors of international health education also exchange cultural awareness and develop valuable friendships. 

Their on-going work is invaluable to the mission of Physicians for Peace, and we honor them as our heroes! 

We have posted many stories from our recent medical mission to the Philippines. Our volunteers worked with patients in our on-going programs there, Walking Free and Seeing Clearly. Their trip was even more important because they were able to lend a hand with relief efforts in the aftermath of the typhoons that had hit the area only a week before. Ken Hudson, Physicians for Peace Gifts in Kind Manager, was there to witness a population bonding together in the face of loss and tragedy. He shares his personal story of what it was like trying to deliver food and water to families in need:

The first couple of days of our mission to the Philippines focused on the “Walking Free” program and how we could better meet the needs of its patients. We had visited the facilities at PGH (Philippine General Hospital) and Clark Air Field. Today would be different since we would be participating in a relief effort which is something that we normally do not do - Physicians for Peace is an organization that focuses primarily on medical education.

During this part of the mission we were supposed to visit the area of the Philippines called Northern Luzon.  Unfortunately we were not able to do so because of the damage that the area had sustained from typhoons Ondong and Pepeng. Lyne Abanilla, PFP’s representative on the ground in the Philippines, asked our team if we would like to help hand out relief supplies to victims of the recent flooding caused by the typhoons. The effort would be in Pasig which is part of Metro Manila. We jumped at the chance to help.

We meet Lyne at the Manila Bulletin which is where she works. The Manila Bulletin is the nation’s second oldest newspaper and claims the second largest circulation in the Phlippines. The paper is located in the historic Intramuros section of Manila.

When we arrive we are noisily greeted by a room full of volunteers that are busy packing the supplies that will be taken to Pasig. The volunteers include Rotarians, business owners, and doctors. The volunteers are eagerly making and packing peanut butter sandwiches. We quickly pitch in, and in no time everything is finished and ready for transport. Once loaded, we head for the police station to pick up our police escort and the truck that will transport the supplies and the volunteers.

Once we get to Pasig, we are greeted by our security escorts. Our truck that will carry the volunteers and supplies is a standard troop/personnel carrier. There will be seats for 8 people but about a dozen or so of the volunteers will have to stand up during the trip with only the wire from the surrounding cage to hang on to.

We are escorted by two police vehicles as we leave the compound. As we slowly make our way through traffic we notice that we are waved through at every intersection by the local traffic cops. Apparently word has been sent ahead in order to help ease our way through the heavy traffic.

The traffic, which is always backed up, becomes even harder to work our way through. We realize that this is due to the roads being closed due to the flooding and landslides. Then traffic comes to an abrupt halt. Right in front of us is a section of road that is completely submerged. Our escorts slowly ease their way through the water and for a while look as if they are getting ready to float away. We are nervous and are sure that they are not going to make it but eventually they are out of the water. As we inch our way forward, we are greeted by people in boats and tricycles. Some people are actually swimming or wading in the dirty water. To the left of us we notice personnel bridges made of two by fours supported by wooden bases that have been hastily constructed so that people can get in and out of the area. This is a scene that I had never witnessed and am once again awestruck at the ingenuity of the Filipino people.

Once we make it out of the water we arrive at our destination. Suddenly we are greeted by a large crowd that starts cheering and waving. These are the people that we have been sent to help.

Suddenly we are out of the truck and on the ground. The supplies are taken off of the truck and moved to a gymnasium that will be the main distribution point. There are also a large number of people in the gym. We are told that the people outside have suffered some damage to their homes but their homes are still habitable. The people inside the gym have lost most of their possessions and their homes were destroyed or almost completely destroyed.

While everyone is busy getting the supplies ready for distribution I grab my camera and spot a set of stairs inside the gym where I can get a few good pictures of what is going on inside. As soon as I get to the top of the stairs, a door flies open and I am greeted by a young man.  I realize that I am invading someone’s “home”. But instead of being angry, the young man asks if I can take a picture of his family. I agree and suddenly they are all in front of me eagerly posing for the camera. Once again, here is a family that instead of focusing on their terrible loss, are instead trying to have fun by posing for a picture.

I quickly turn around and start snapping pictures of the scene on the gym floor. The sight that appears before me is shocking. These are families that have been dislocated. It looks as if some of them had little or no time to grab anything of value. Dirty blankets and sheets have been erected in an attempt at privacy. Some of the people look as if they do not have any clean clothes. Children are running in and out of the makeshift dwellings playing and laughing. The crowd is starting to murmur with anticipation of a chance to receive some water and a little bit of food.

As I make my way to the floor and start walking in and out of the dwellings, I am greeted by calls of “hello sir”,  “good evening sir”, and “how are you doing sir”.  Everyone has a smile as I greet them.

After taking pictures for a few minutes I notice that Lyne has the volunteers ready to hand out the supplies to the people inside the gym. I run over and grab a big box of bottled water and drag it on the floor as someone else passes out the bottles. We are told to try to limit each family to one bottle. We need to make sure that everyone, including the people outside, receives their fair share of supplies. The first box empties rather quickly and then we start working on a second box of water. Suddenly people start running up to me and asking “tubig please”, water please. Though I know that every family should have received a bottle of water I cannot turn them down. What if their family is very large? How long has it been since they had fresh drinking water? What if they have small children? So I give them some more.  Once again I hear many “thank you sirs” and “salamat po”. Then I spot Doc Montero who is also busy handing out water. Someone is asking him to limit the amount of water that he is giving away. He shouts back that the children keep asking him for water and how can he turn them down. My thoughts exactly.

Eventually mats and blankets are also passed out. A small amount of cooked noodles and bread with peanut butter is given to each family. We are finished handing out supplies to the “residents” of the gym.

Now we shift to the people waiting outside. Everyone is standing in two lines. The supplies start moving down the line but we need to move a little quicker. These people have been waiting for quite some time and we want to make sure that they get their fair share. Lyne is urging everyone to move a little quicker. We certainly don’t want anyone to think that they are going to be left out. It seems that the supplies move a little quicker this time and before we know it we are finished. Through all of the commotion there is no pushing, shoving, fighting or cursing. Everyone is well-behaved and courteous.

Night has come, so we start to gather the few supplies that we have left and put them on the truck. As we make our way to the truck to leave we are greeted with “thank you ate” (older sister), “thank you kuya” (older brother), “thank you sir” or salamat po.  Some of the volunteers are on the truck. As I get ready to climb on I hear a child call out “tanapay sir”, “bread please sir”. I notice a box of bread at the end of the truck. I hand the little boy a roll. Then where there was one hand there are now two. So I hand out two more rolls. Now there are four more hands stretched out toward me, so I give up four more rolls. Now there are six and then eight more hands. So I hand out more bread. The people inside the truck are telling me that we need to leave because it is getting late. Suddenly there is a hand around my right arm and then one on my left. Then there is a hand from behind and then I am in the truck.

As we start to leave we pass by a crowd of people. Some of them are cheering while others are waving. I hear some goodbyes and few more salamats and then we are gone.

Our trip out of the flooded area is a bit quicker since it is late and there is a lot less traffic. Once again we receive a free pass because of our escort and because of our mission.

Once we arrive back at the police station it is decided that we will all meet somewhere to eat. We are all thirsty, hungry, and tired. The restaurant of choice is Jolibees. This is the Philippines version of KFC.

When I receive my order and start to eat, I can’t help but wonder how easy it is for me to take for granted that I have the ability to eat anything that I want at anytime but that there were going to be many mouths tonight that would not be fed. Even though I finish my meal, it seems that it is a little harder to swallow than usual.

P.S. - At some point during the relief mission in Pasig a woman handed me a note. The note had her name and phone number. On it she stated that her daughter had scoliosis (curvature of the spine) and asks for help. When I meet Dr. Pipo Bundoc the next day and ask him if he could help he tells me “I can do this”.  Once again our friends in the Philippines will come through.

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The work of Physicians for Peace to improve third world health care is vital to those in need. Find out more about our medical missions in the Philippines and how you can make a medical donation to support our international health programs there - visit www.physiciansforpeace.org 

We have posted reports about how the The Physicians for Peace mission to the Philippines this month brought support to the Walking Free program and assistance to typhoon survivors. Another important aspect of this mission was working with the Seeing Clearly Program, as volunteer John Knight reports below:

 

We had wonderful missions in Smokey Mountain, Manila and Madrid, Surigao del Sur, and Mindinao. This occurred after an impromptu disaster relief trip to a flooded area of Manila. Saturday, we made sandwiches and carried other food, sleeping supplies, and clothing to an area of Manila that was still flooded from the recent typhoon. It was an amazing experience for all involved. Hundreds of grateful people were helped. Words and pictures could never describe the resilience of these people amidst such dire circumstances. 

The following 2 days consisted of the opening of the PFP/Rotary Health Center and a "Seeing Clearly" eye exam and eyeglass mission in Smokey Mountain. It is named so because it was once a large garbage dump site where 20,000 people had been living. Since the closing of the dump, they now live in public housing highrises. We had many volunteer optometrists working alongside volunteers from the community we were serving. Several hundred patients were examined and the majority of these received prescription eyeglasses. Many of the others received diagnoses and were referred for future surgeries. Those prescriptions that we did not have will be made by Dr. Buniel in Madrid and sent back to Manila for proper fitting by the local optometrist.

On Tuesday, we took an all day trip by plane and van to Madrid in Mindinao to see the site of our permanent "Seeing Clearly" clinic for another 2 day clinic using the same model as the previous mission. Approximately 500 people were served during this mission. As always, patients travelled from near and far to avail of the services. Everyone was so kind and appreciative in that area that I now feel like that is my home in The Philippines. We promised to continue supporting the work of Dr. Buniel and also to return again soon.        

This was my sixth PFP trip to the Philippines and best so far. I could not have asked for more than to share such an experience with my father, Dr. Montero, Dr. Buniel, and all the other fine people that made this mission a great success. We will now go back to the States with a better understanding of the needs here and an invigorated spirit to do all we can at home to help these our brothers and sisters in The Philippines!

John Knight

You can help those in need by supporting our medical volunteer work and our on-going medical missions in the Philippines. Whether you wish to donate medical supplies or join or monthly giving program, there are many ways to contribute to our international health programs. Find out more at http://www.physiciansforpeace.org/ways-to-give.html

Both medical workers and patients have shown tremendous courage in dealing with the devastation caused by recent typhoons in the Philippines. Dr. Josephine Bundoc reports on the conditions there, and the incredible determination of the survivors:

Dear Everyone,

The Physicians for Peace Walking Free team walked and waded through the aftermath of the typhoon to provide relief goods, medical, surgical and disability assistance to the amputees and wheelchair borne community of Tahanang Walang Hagdanan (House without steps) on October 2, 2009.

Truly inspiring indeed is the fact that we were met with warm, happy  and  hopeful faces with only their wounds and broken prosthesis giving us a clue to the damages brought upon them by Typhoon Ondoy! As one of the survivors told us, "We survived it through faith and mind over matter."

Since President Arroyo was expected to arrive at 1 pm, we had to finish the mission before noon for security purposes. Within the time constraints, the Physicians for Peace Amputee Support Group was able to distribute 100 packages of toiletries and food, clean and dress 20 wounds, provide medical consults and medications  to 75 families and screen 28 amputees.

On that day, we also turned over a donation of 10,000 pesos by HaoChin Chua Foundation and 20,000 pesos raised by the Physicians for Peace Amputee Support group for the rehabilitation of their dormitories, homes, and workplace which were neck deep in water.

We returned Oct 19 to measure the amputees for new prosthesis --- fulfilling a promise we made when we had to leave early last Oct 2 as we were pressed to leave the premises.

We will again go back in November to deliver their finished prosthesis so they can regain independent mobility and  facilitate their immediate return to work and productivity!

On behalf of the beneficiaries, we express our appreciation for your unwavering support!

You can support our relief efforts and medical missions in the Philippines - Donate medical equipment or donate medical supplies to our Gifts in Kind Program, or make a monthly gift by becoming a Partner for Peace... To find out the many ways you can contribute to our medical volunteer work, visit http://www.physiciansforpeace.org/ways-to-give.html 

Today Dr. Penny Bundoc, John Knight, Mr. Henry Knight, and I travelled to Clark Air Base to visit the “Walking Free” Pampanga Project.

 

Upon arrival we were met by Mr. Pepito D. Villanueva, Manager, Special Concerns Office.  “Pep” was a gracious host, and it is obvious that he has a passion for this project. It is through his hard work that he has been able to take very few resources and make this project work. I was extremely happy that I was able to give him a handful of prosthetic knees that I had taken on the flight from our headquarters in Norfolk. These knees will help complete several more above knee prostheses.

 

As we toured the facility, it was evident that it was being run in a very professional and efficient manner. There were rooms set aside for manufacturing the limbs, physical therapy, and training.   The result of everyone’s hard work over the last couple of years was clearly evident.  In a span of less than 2 years, a total of 128 patients have receive prosthetic limbs. The patients that were treated lived in 21 different localities.

 

We were introduced later to Mr. Benigno Ricafort, the President of the Clark Development Corporation. Mr. Ricafort was very enthusiastic about the work that we are doing to help amputees and indicated that he would continue to support our work there.

 

A real indicator of just how much of an impact we have made in the Pampanga area is the fact that people that live far outside the general area come to the clinic to see if they can receive help.

 

Mr. Villanueva provided me with additional information as to the types of items that would be helpful. I told him that we will continue to ship containers full of prosthetic limbs, walkers, canes, crutches, and wheelchairs in an effort to support our friends in Pampanga and help them walk again and live a full life.

 

It is almost 1:00 A.M. Oh by the way it looks like there will be more massive flooding. We are supposed to be hit by more bad weather this weekend. Let’s just hope and pray that somehow it passes us by.
 

You can join Ken in supporting our medical missions in the Philippines - Donate medical equipment or donate medical supplies to our Gifts in Kind Program, or make a monthly gift by becoming a Partner for Peace... To find out the many ways you can support our medical volunteer work, visit http://www.physiciansforpeace.org/ways-to-give.html 

John Knight, M.P.H., a long time Physicians for Peace volunteer and recipient of our 2009 Volunteer of the Year Award for Mission Support, is currently traveling in the Philippines with Ken Hudson, our Gifts in Kind Manager. He reports on the incredible achievements of the Walking Free Program and gives an update on the situation since the typhoons hit a few weeks ago: 

As you know, our first of 3 "Seeing Clearly" missions was just cancelled in Isabela due to the impassibility of the roads in Northern Luzon. Back to back typhoons have resulted in massive flooding and landslides that have killed hundreds of people in both areas. Unfortunately, The Philippines receives more than its share of natural disasters. But because of this, the people are very resilient and, as always, still have great smiles and attitudes. The first typhoon hit Manila 2 weeks ago and hit home for Physicians for Peace, with the flooding of our Secretary Cherry's house.  She had 10 feet of water in her house, had to spend a night on the roof, and lost many material possessions. The selfless person that she is, Cherry still managed to meet us at the airport, along with Juan and Lyne. This was the first trip to a developing country for my father, Henry and Ken. However, the staff and volunteers here immediately made everyone feel right at home.  

 

Dr. Montero and Lyne are arranging for us to help with the relief efforts in Manila in the time that was allotted for the first mission. Ken did a great job of summarizing our tours of Walking Free and PGH today. My father also had never seen anything like what he saw today. As a Board Member of Duke University Hospital, he had been exposed to a lot of first world medicine but had never truly seen what the have-nots in the world must face when trying to care for themselves and their families. He was truly affected by what he witnessed and will share his experiences with many others. For me, witnessing first-hand these heartbreaking scenes never fails to put things in perspective, energizing me to give more of my future time and resources to help others. After visiting the hot, chaotic & overcrowded pediatric ER, my father and I agreed that had his 2 month prematurely born granddaughter McKenzie been born in such a place, she would probably not be alive today.  

 

While there is so much work to be done in that hospital, the shining star of what we saw was the Physicians for Peace Walking Free Program. The last time I visited it several year ago, all that existed was a concept, a room filled with boxes, very little equipment, and very few patients being served. Fortunately, Dr. Montero, Penny Bundoc & Lyne Abanilla have relentlessly worked to make this program a huge success. Prostheses were being formed while some patients were being fitted and others were "Walking Free". We heard first hand stories from these patients and staff who have been made whole again by Physicians for Peace.  

 

Even though our team is delayed in the hands-on work we will perform, the Good Lord always has a plan.  Today was a chance to see the overall picture firsthand. It was an opportunity to see how much has been done but how much more we can do. We all sat down for a quiet lunch afterward and had great discussions and brainstorming about how we can best help these most deserving Filipinos in the future. Although some ideas may be dreams, Penny told me that she did not think the dream of "Walking Free - Philippines" would be where it is now when we had similar discussions in 2004. With hard the continued hard work of Physicians for Peace's staff and volunteers, dreams do come true!!!

 

We look forward to updating you soon about "Seeing Clearly" missions 2 and 3 which are still on schedule.

 

God Bless You All,

John Knight
 

You can join John in supporting our medical missions in the Philippines - Donate medical equipment or donate medical supplies to our Gifts in Kind Program, or make a monthly gift by becoming a Partner for Peace... To find out the many ways you can support our medical volunteer work, visit http://www.physiciansforpeace.org/ways-to-give.html 

Ken Hudson, our Gifts in Kind manager, is currently in the Philippines helping out with our on-going programs there, which include Walking Free and Seeing Clearly. His first observations on the ground show why Physicians for Peace is there and the importance of the work of our volunteers...

 

"I was excited to be on my first mission since joining Physicians for Peace in May 2005, and looking forward to participating in a medical mission trip to the Philippines. 

 

Doctor Montero arrived to pick up John Knight, John Knight’s dad, Henry, and myself and then we were off to meet Penny and Pipo Bundoc and Lyne Abanilla at Philippine General Hospital for a guided tour.

 

While I cannot do justice to what I saw with words or pictures I will do my best to provide an overall sense of what is being accomplished there.

 

The main focus of the tour was the prosthetics clinic where the bulk of the work for the “Walking Free” program in Manila takes place.  While Penny and Pipo gave me an education as to their primary needs in the shop they also took the time to introduce some of their patients. 

 

I met  Lea Redreno, who suffers from congenital deformities on every limb.  Lea is working at the “Walking Free” clinic, helping maintain it’s inventory and organization. Lea has a beautiful smile and a great personality even though she has suffered from many personal hardships.

 

Then I had the pleasure of meeting Herbert Renuda, who at the young age of 15 was being fitted for an above the knee prosthesis at the hip. While being fitted, Herbert displayed maturity beyond his years.

 

Then I met several young amputees that also had appointments at the clinic who all had positive attitudes and big smiles for everyone they met.

 

This is proof once again that the Physicians for Peace team and our great volunteers such as Doctor Montero and Lyne Abanilla continue to do great work.

 

After visiting the “Walking Free” area, Penny and Pipo decided to give us a tour through the rest of the hospital. 

 

What I saw was something that I have never witnessed. I saw a hospital that is bursting at the seams. Wherever I went there were extremely long lines of sick people waiting for help.  As soon as you walked into the main screening area you could see that the system was overwhelmed. 

 

One of the scenes was of a woman leaning over her mother who was laying on a cot in pain.  She was busily trying to use a paper fan to try to cool her while her tears were falling as she wondered what illness she was suffering from. I came upon another family that was trying to comfort a young girl that they had barely saved from slipping into a coma. Her supply of insulin had run out, and they were not able to get to Manila in time because of the recent flooding and landslides that had been caused by Typhoons Ondong and Ppepeng. The young physician in training assured me that her patient would probably recover, but that she had suffered a great deal.

 

Particularly troublesome were the number of very young children that I saw that were waiting for treatment. It is hard to say how many there were but virtually all available space was occupied.  The illnesses of these children could range from the common cold to more serious illnesses. 

 

Through all of this, the hard working and dedicated medical professionals like Penny and Pipo and our great volunteers Doctor Montero and Lyne Abanilla impressed me with their great attitudes and their hard work. This is the one piece of the thread that keeps things running at this hospital.

 

Additionally what was perhaps the most inspiring part of what I saw was to witness the strength and courage of the families that stood watch over their loved ones while waiting for help without a single complaint. I will never forget what I saw today, and this experience makes me want to do everything that I can to help the people of the Philippines."

You can join Ken in supporting our medical missions in the Philippines - Donate medical equipment or donate medical supplies to our Gifts in Kind Program, or make a monthly gift by becoming a Partner for Peace... To find out the many ways you can support our medical volunteer work, visit http://www.physiciansforpeace.org/ways-to-give.html 

Dr. Josephine Budoc of Walking Free Philippines gives this report on the accomplishments of two of our prosthetic and orthotic technicians: 

"The Cambodia School of Prosthetics and Orthotics ( CSPO ) has granted the Philippine Walking Free technicians two (2) full scholarships for its 3 year P & O Category 2 course. Their scholarship covers their $12,000/year tuition fee for 3 years, free board and lodging, allowance, and health insurance. Philippine Airlines has been kind enough to sponsor their roundtrip fares to and from Manila.

The 2 technicians are Edgar Bellosillo and Desiderio Gapasin. Edgar has been the PGH technician (initially for Jaipur and then Physicians for Peace) since 2005... Desiderio is a hip disarticulation prosthesis user who has been a P & O technician since 1990 and is our technician at the Clark Prosthesis Laboratory and Training CEnter.

They are scheduled to leave October 28 for Cambodia and we are truly wishing them all the best in their schooling. May we reap the fruits of their efforts in the P & O school we are trying to establish!"

Congratulations to Edgar and Desiderio, and to all the Walking Free Philippines team for their hard work in continuing to improve care for amputees. If you would like to find out more about our medical missions in the Philippines and other international health programs, visit our web site at www.physiciansforpeace.org.

You can also donate medical equipment or prosthetic devices to the Walking Free Program or make a medical donation to support international health education - Your support changes lives!


Desi at work in the clinic.



Edgar (right) with a patient.

The winners of this years Medical Diplomat Awards were announced at this year's "Celebrate the Nations" Gala Reception. We are proud to honor each of these volunteers for the amazing contributions they have made to Physicians for Peace programs, as well as their hard work and dedication, healing countless lives around the world. 

The winners are...

Physician Category - Dr. Chris Walters

Dr. Chris Walters, who specializes in podiatric medicine, is a long time Physicians for Peace volunteer, leading missions to Eritrea since 2004.  Dr. Walters has been the primary fundraiser, collecting over $1 million dollars in original retail value of in-kind donations of orthopedic equipment.  Dr. Walters has also pioneered new surgical techniques for limb reconstruction of severe deformities which are not seen, well-understood, nor treated in the US.  These novel techniques, which are safe, reproducible, and sustainable in the developing world are soon to be published for educational purposes for dissemination to other developing nations.

Dr. Keith Goss, who works closely with Dr. Walters on surgery missions, accepted the award for him at the Gala. (below)


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Health Professional (Non-physician) Category - Gil Mejia, C.P.

Gilberto Mejia, a certified prosthetist, has guided the prosthetists in Dominican Republic towards higher standards of care, embodying the Physicians for Peace philosophy.  When Gil first started providing training the clinic in Dominican Republic was making as few as 7 prosthesis a week, and not making them very well.  Seven years later, the same clinic has a robust staff, is known for their quality of service, and is a self sustaining operation that makes over 30 prosthesis a week.



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Mission Support Category - John Knight, M.P.H.

John Knight has worked with Physicians for Peace for many years and is the founder and champion of the Seeing Clearly Program, one of the many sustainable programs in the Philippines.  The program, first launched in the Philippines, has been a huge success due to John’s leadership and hard work and is now being replicated in Haiti and other countries around the world.  In addition, Mr. Knight serves on the Physicians for Peace Medical Operations Committee and has gone on five PFP missions to the Philippines with his sixth mission scheduled for this October.

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Congratulations to the winners and to all our volunteers who help support them in the work they do, and who make our medical missions possible every day. 

To learn more about our volunteer medical missions, visit our web site at www.physiciansforpeace.org

 

Dr. Josephine Bundoc (left) participates in the first national prosthesis Walkathon in Manila.

Dr. Josephine “Penny” Bundoc, Professor and Chairman of the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at the University of the Philippines in Manila, is being honored by Physicians for Peace with its 20^th Anniversary Health Care Heroes Award for her work with the organization’s Walking Free program. The success of PFP’s Walking Free program in the Philippines has been due in large part to her energetic and inspiring efforts. Dr. Bundoc works tirelessly to help the neediest patients in the Philippines receive prosthetics to replace lost arms and legs, and ensure ongoing physical rehabilitation to allow them to rebuild their lives with a sense of joy. In 2005, with support and supplies from Physicians for Peace and partners, Dr. Bonduc was instrumental in the opening of a new state-of-the-art Prosthetic and Rehabilitation Center at the Philippine General Hospital (PGH) and has played a significant role in the success of our medical missions in the Philippines. 

Read more about Penny's work with amputees in these articles...

http://physiciansforpeace.wordpress.com/category/walking-free/

http://www.upibalon.com/story/ibalon-physicians-peace-naga-city

You can help support the work of Dr. Penny Bundoc and our international health programs in the Philippines. When you make a financial contribution or donate medical equipment or prosthetics, you are giving someone access to medical care and the hope of walking again. To learn more about Walking Free and our other programs in the Philippines, visit us on the web... www.physiciansforpeace.org

David A. Lawrence, M.S.P.T., A.T.C., an internationally renowned physical therapist and amputee specialist, is being honored by Physicians for Peace as a Health Care Hero for his medical volunteer work with Walking Free, an international program he co-founded in 2000 to help amputees abroad. 

 

David is President of Lawrence Rehabilitation Specialists Inc. which manages the LRS Gait Center Richmond, Gait Center Hampton Roads, and the Country Club of Virginia Manual Therapy Center.  He is also Program Director for the Stepping Back to Life Project, AT Home Care Inc.

Throughout much of the world, amputee victims of land mines, earthquakes, motor vehicle accidents, industrial and agricultural accidents, birth defects, disease, and war receive little or no medical treatment. The Physicians for Peace Walking Free Program was designed to help third world countries meet the needs of amputees. Following the first initiative in Diyarbakir, Turkey in 2000, Physicians for Peace brought the Walking Free program to Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic in 2001 and has since expanded it to Port-au-Prince, Haiti; Manila, Philippines; and Guatemala City, Guatemala. The Walking Free Program has helped more than ten thousand patients with prosthetic and orthotic needs and has provided more than $2 million in prosthetic and orthotic in-kind contributions including rehabilitation and surgical supplies and equipment.

 

David Lawrence's contributions to Walking Free have been invaluable. He has helped Physicians for Peace establish prosthetic and rehabilitation centers in developing nations worldwide, implementing a strategy that gets volunteers actively involved with prosthetic and physical therapy training for 4-5 years.  “We are empowering the therapists and prosthetists abroad with the skills to be independent.  Success is complete when the clinics are able to not only operate on their own, but to expand their business and patient care,” emphasizes Lawrence. He continues to work tirelessly to help those in need, and his passion for the mission of Walking Free is an inspiration to all.

 
Today is also David's birthday, so from all of us at Physicians for Peace, THANK YOU DAVID AND HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!

 

To make a contribution to Physicians for Peace in honor of David Lawrence, click here. 

To find out more about Walking Free and other international health programs, visit our web site at www.physiciansforpeace.org

According to the Global Health Council, each year 10.1 million children under the age of five die; many because of lack of access to medical care.  

Baby Hazel was almost one of those statistics.

 

It was the end of a long day of medical volunteer work for the Physicians for Peace doctors in Metro Manila, Philippines, when a mother carrying her two year old daughter came through the doors of the My Children’s House of Hope medical clinic. This two year old child quickly became affectionately known by Physicians for Peace volunteers as Baby Hazel.

 

Baby Hazel had a tumor on her back the size of a watermelon and her head was swollen with excessive fluids.  The tumor was so large that Baby Hazel could not sit up.

 

My Children’s House of Hope was a dream of Rev. Joe McGourn to provide medical care to some of the most impoverished children in the Philippines.  Several Physicians for Peace doctors and nurses volunteer their time to operate the clinic and care for the patients.  The clinic, which sits right next to the largest dump in Asia, truly offers a house of hope to those that enter the doors.  The doctors at House of Hope are accustomed to seeing patients with serious medical conditions due to inconsistent access to proper medical care.

 

But, Baby Hazel was different. “The kid was a fighter,” witnessed Rev McGourn.

 

Her mother wept as the doctors told her that Baby Hazel needed a shunt or she wouldn’t make it.  The $5,000 price tag of the shunt was an impossibly mountain for this impoverished family to climb.  Where would they get the money to save Baby Hazel?

 

“It was Physicians for Peace to the rescue again,” McGourn excitedly and passionately exclaimed.

 

Physicians for Peace Board Member, Dr. Juan Montero and Physicians for Peace Philippines Chairman of the Board, Dr. Ted Herbosa knew exactly what to do.  Physicians for Peace would provide Baby Hazel with the life-saving shunt.

 

Before Baby Hazel could go in for surgery, she had to fight a lengthy battle of fevers and infections.  But, finally the long-awaited day came.

 

Three days after her surgery, Baby Hazel was out of the hospital.  Now, she’s a smiling, laughing, happy and vibrant 4-year-old.

 

“If it weren’t for Physicians for Peace, she [Baby Hazel] would not be alive today,” McGourn proudly expressed.

 

Baby Hazel’s story is one of many written by Physicians for Peace mission teams around the globe.  In our 20^th Anniversary year, we are celebrating the completion of over 540 teaching and healing missions in 50+ countries.  

 

We’d like to extend to you a special invitation to help the next Baby Hazel by joining us as a Partner for Peace.  The Partner’s for Peace monthly giving program was developed for friends like you.  By joining the cause as a Partner for Peace, you can help provide quality medical care and training to those in need around the world.

 

Your monthly pledge is important to Physicians for Peace as it provides a guarantee of steady and predictable funds at a much lower cost than other methods of fundraising.  Your monthly gift of $15, $25, $50, $100 or more will help ensure those with unmet medical needs will receive access to quality medical care.

 

Every $1 donated to Physicians for Peace generates $8 in additional cash and in-kind essential medicines and supplies to help those in need and improve third world health care. 

 

Won’t you please support our international health programs by joining this very special program as a Partner for Peace? Monthly giving is easy, convenient and saves lives!

Find out more about the benefits of becoming a member...

Join Today!

 Dr. Chris Buniel has been working to expand the Physicians for Peace "Seeing Clearly" program, which began in the Philippines in 2004. This program provides free eye exams and recycled prescription eye glasses to people who do not have access to vision care. The program also helps train students in vision exam techniques. Last week, Dr. Buniel delivered 12 boxes of eye glasses and met with optometrists at the Mindanao Medical Foundation College of Optometry in Davao City in the Philippines. Plans were discussed to bring the Seeing Clearly program to this area based at the MMF. 

Physicians for Peace volunteers will travel there in October for medical volunteer work and program development. Ken Hudson, our Manager of Gifts in Kind, will also participate in this mission trip. Ken has been an important part of the success of the Seeing Clearly Program, gathering and shipping thousands of pairs of eyeglasses to those in need. (Watch video about Ken!)

Our volunteers help third world countries by bringing vision exams and optometry resources to rural and outlying areas. Learn more about the Seeing Clearly Program on our web site at www.physiciansforpeace.org/seeingclearly.html  


You can help someone see clearly... Support Physicians for Peace medical missions today! 

Sam Hill (above) has been an important part of Physicians for Peace for
many years, raising funds to train thousands of medical 
professionals around the world. 

We have honored several people this year as part of our 20th anniversary to thank them for their commitment to helping others. This month we have the special privilege to recognize someone whose tireless support and enthusiasm for our cause has not only helped people around the world, but has helped make Physicians for Peace what it is today. Dr. Charles E. Horton Jr., the son of our late founder, expresses our gratitude to Sam Hill for his dedication:

Twenty years ago, Physicians for Peace was founded by my father, Dr. Charles E. Horton Sr.  Throughout his career as a doctor, he travelled the world, taking on difficult patient cases, training medical professionals in the latest techniques and, most importantly to him, making lifelong friendships with the doctors he worked with.  From these experiences, he saw the possibility that international health education could be the key to bringing quality health care to the developing world. At the same time, he could be establishing and connecting long-lasting personal friends to foster peace between cultures through medical volunteer work.  

This year, as Physicians for Peace celebrates its 20^th anniversary, we are honoring 20 health care heroes, 20 amazing individuals or groups who have contributed to our success over the years.  We are spotlighting doctors, nurses, board members, donors, supporters of all types -- a cross-section of the caring volunteers who made my dad’s vision a reality. 

One individual who has been key to our success is Sam Hill, a close personal friend of dad’s who has been with Physicians for Peace practically since the beginning. In celebration of Sam’s birthday this month, he is our health care hero for July. 

Sam has made significant contributions to Physicians for Peace in so many areas.  First and foremost, Sam is one of those rare individuals who becomes lifelong friends with everyone he meets, and so he has been able to bring countless people into the Physicians for Peace family. Sam often talks about his lunches with dad, when they would put their heads together and figure out how to convert friends into volunteers, and volunteers into cheerleaders for the work of Physicians for Peace. 

Along with my father, Sam has long been the public face of Physicians for Peace. In 1995, Sam became our Executive Director, and more recently served as Director of Development. He is a fundraising powerhouse who helped build Physicians for Peace into the global health organization it is today. Tapping into his vast network of friends and contacts, Sam has almost single-handedly brought in some of our most significant investors.  He has also served his time doing hands-on work on mission trips in the Philippines and Haiti, all the better to explain the importance of Physicians for Peace international health programs to potential supporters. 

Another close friend of my dad’s, Catherine Colgan, a long time board member and someone who has been with Physicians for Peace since the beginning, said of Sam, “He is a quality gentleman, humble to a fault, but everyone can see the strength and caliber of his ability. His people skills and networking ability make him an invaluable asset to Physicians for Peace.”

Congratulations to our July Physicians for Peace health care hero, Sam Hill! Sam’s devoted work with Physicians for Peace has directly resulted in the training of thousands of medical professionals in the 50+ countries where we have sent our volunteers.  Over the past 20 years, these newly-trained caregivers have healed hundreds of thousands of patients in some of the poorest countries around the world. 

You, too, can help Physicians for Peace continue to train medical professionals and heal the sick around the globe. This month, in honor of Sam’s birthday, you can give the gift of life.  Please make a donation so that we can continue our healing work for another 20 years.  Help us create a world of hope!

Warmest Regards,

Dr. Charles E. “Chuck” Horton Jr.

Make a Donation in Honor of Sam Hill 

February 1:  Take off from Norfolk International Airport to begin my peace offering to the world's poor.  From above, the frozen Great Lakes look like shifting tectonic plates.  I never imagined that this trip would include a view of the Hudson Bay or Alaska.  Try as I may, I could not grasp how the sun did not move in the sky when we were north of the Arctic Circle.  The 13 hour flight from the Motor City to Tokyo was highlighted by the crisp beauty of the pure white mountain ranges and glaciers in Siberia.

 

February 2:  Landing in Tokyo after seeing no sign of life for the last 9 hours for a quick connector to Manila.  Touchdown in the Philippines at 23h00 and transported to the regal Manila Hotel. Slept like the dead.

 

February 3:  A short tour of the toasty Manila climate which was surprisingly pleasant.  Seeing glaciers and palm trees within a 12 hour period really plays with your mind.  The dark and dank streets of Manila were my first look at poverty on an incalculable level.  The entire Philippines has a GDP less than the state of North Carolina.  How blessed am I to live in the USA?  After sleepily and cautiously sampling some of the local fare we retired early in preparation for the 4am flight to Bichol from Manila’s second and more modern airport.  

 

February 4:  Early morning takeoff was highlighted by the hilarity of shooing away territorial cruising roosters from my bags inside the otherwise modern airport.  We arrived by prop plane in Camaraines del Sur early as the locals were headed out to the endless expanse of rice patties, and after some searching, found accommodations that were acceptable to all. I had a view of the Pacific Ocean and a volcanic sandy beach bay.  In America, my room would have struggled to keep up with the Super8 but here it was seven stars.  We dove into the logistics of the mission and viewed our make shift clinic for the first time.  What have I gotten myself into?  No overhead light; no suction; no running water; no x-rays; no sterilization, no dental chairs and worst of all no AC!  My patients would be sitting in white flimsy plastic chairs and tilting there head back 90 degrees.  After meeting with some dignitaries, we visited a local fishing village and immediately fell in love with the children.  Though they are immersed in it, they know no poverty.  They only know hunger.  Poverty is chronic - hunger is acute - and out here the future is a luxury that few have the means to contemplate.  There is day to day; meal to meal and sometimes minute to minute.  Laughter is still the most powerful international language!  That night I thanked God in advance for all the hardships to come as I realized that the words "offering" and "sacrifice" were synonyms and my peace offering would be my peace sacrifice.  

 

February 5:  The beginning of the onslaught.  People, people everywhere.  Confused locals in serpentine lines that seemed to stretch forever.  I was seeing anywhere from 5 to 15 patients at one time.  In retrospect this was the lightest day but most significant because I truly began to understand the relationship between an offering and a sacrifice.  163 patients, most of which were multiple extractions.  I decided to limit myself to running five chairs at a time until the local dentists urged us to quit for the day.  The solemn pride of an aching back at the end of the day began to almost feel like a reward.  This is why I am here.   

 

February 6:  Day Two and beginning to get into a groove.  Seeing the hopeful displaced from yesterdays rush to be treated waiting in line again so patiently, I began to realize that there are more patients than we would ever have time to treat.  Some came just to get in on the action.  The locals viewed us as almost superhuman.  Everywhere patients were standing in line just hoping beyond hope that they could be lucky enough to get that yellow piece of paper that means their chance to be treated was a mere 15 people away.  Again the local dentists encouraged us to stop for the day.  Not a single waiting person protested, and I still have yet to see any kids.  After clinic, we went walking on a “village crash” to get a first hand look at the locals in their element.  We bumped into dozens of recovering patients with humble thank you’s all around.  They have so little, and you must be careful because they will give you the shirt off of their back.  We continued walking the narrow streets through the endless adjacent tin roof shacks which served as both market shops and homes for families as large as 10 or 12 in a space not much bigger than the average restroom in the States.  I don't feel worthy to stand among these people; these survivors.  After no small amount of encouragement from the locals, many in our group tried the infamous baloot delicacy.  As for me, not on your life.  

 

February 7:  Day Three was a Saturday so there were a few kids to go around.  We treated over 250 patients and vowed not to leave one standing in the line!  It was a noble effort, but I must confess that we fell short of our goal.  We conceded defeat at the end of this our last clinical day and gave away all of our dental supplies.  After we wrapped up, we still had almost 50 lbs of small toys for the kids that we never saw.  That evening we were all clinging to the edge of our seats in anticipation of a mass give-away at the fishing village.  We were instantly mobbed by gleeful little ones at water's edge and carried our gift toss from our van out through the dank streets of the shelters.  The electricity of the children chasing our gift-bearing van was like the newly benevolent Grinch returning to Whooville on Christmas morning - the gift bearing drive by.  We also gave most of our clothes, food, medicine and toiletries away.

 

February 8 and 9:  Back in Manila where we dove into the same "shady" food of less than a week before.  We spent an entire day shopping in the monstrous Mall of Asia which is almost a city in itself.  All of us are both physically and emotionally drained.  The trip back to the splendor of room service in the Manila Hotel was like a looming holiday for a child and sleep was the ultimate reward. We found a TGIFridays and all got to partake in real American food.  Unfortunately I and the rest of my group got sick there. Nightfall in Manila exposes both its beauty and its scars, depending on which side of the street one looks.  One side is ultra modern, neon and plush while a few paces away the homeless are more numerous than trick-or-treaters on Halloween.  Thoughts now turn to home and family.  As we again took off from the Manila Airport, we prepared for the flights home.  Back to the splendor and safety of the people and country that I love.  I will always hold dear my time in the Philippines. I am so incredibly blessed!   

Ben is a dentist and Physicians for Peace Volunteer who lives in Suffolk, Virginia. To learn more about our dental program visit our web site at www.physiciansforpeace.org/dentalcare.html

You can make a donation now to support our medical volunteer work and international health programs. Our medical mission trips provide care and training to hundreds of people in need. Your gift makes a difference!

Report from Josephine Buondoc, Physicians for Peace Walking Free Program, Philippines:

"On February 15, the 1st satellite Physicians for Peace prosthetic center was

inaugurated at the Clark Development Center (CDC) - Polytechnic School

in order to render prosthetic/wheelchair services more accessible to all

amputees north of Luzon in the Philippines.

 

The PFP-CDC prosthetic center was born out of the love for service by

the Kapampangan Development Foundation, Clark Development Center,

Congressman Lazatin, Rotary International 3790, Social Action Center of

Pampanga, Department of Social Welfare and Development, Commission on

Higher Education and most especially.... Physicians for Peace Walking Free!
The shared efforts of the local military, Pampanga Women's group, UP-PGH

technicians, UERMMC physical therapists and Knightsbridge International

to ensure the presence and fitting/measurement of recipients, as well as the

transportation of equipment, truly kept the spirit of volunteerism alive!

With all gears set towards establishing the prosthetic school, CDC has

committed the prosthetic center as a center for affiliation of trainees

and Jocelyn Wong, our certified prosthetist volunteer strengthened her

commitment towards supervising the CDC technicians !

 

Thank you for the continuing support !"

News links about the Center's Inauguration:

www.mb.com.ph/issues/2009/02/15/PROV20090215148140.html

positivenewsmedia.ca/am2/publish/Health_21/CDC_inaugurates_prosthesis_center_in_Clark.shtm

To learn more about how to donate medical supplies, prosthetics, or other devices to support our international health care programs, contact us today!

Physicians for Peace has a very successful partnership with EYEsee, an organization whose mission is to address the problem of poor eyesight as a contributor to poverty in third world countries. The organization estimates that 4 million pairs of eyeglasses are discarded each year in North America, while 153 million people worldwide suffer from vision problems for which they cannot afford treatment. (Visit www.eyeseemission.org for more information.) Launched in the Philippines, the Physicians for Peace Seeing Clearly program, conducts medical missions to train eye care professionals, and provide vision exams and eyeglasses to those who do not have access to them. We are grateful to the medical donations from EYEsee that make these missions possible.  

The following is an excerpt from a letter from Janice Guzon, EYEsee founder, about their ongoing efforts to recycle eyeglasses to help third world countries:

 

 

"During the last seven weeks, EYEsee has collected nearly 3,000 pairs of usable eyeglasses during its weekend drives.  As EYEsee founder, I have gratefully acknowledged these donations of used eyeglasses from Saint Viator High School (Arlington Heights), St. Paul Lutheran Parish (Mt. Prospect), St. Raymond de Penafort Parish (Mt. Prospect), St. Alphonsus Liguori Parish (Prospect Heights), St. Hubert Parish (Hoffman Estates), St. Thomas Villanova Parish (Palatine), and St. Marcelline Parish (Schaumburg).

 

Many Saint Viator students have pitched in during these weekend collection drives.  They manned EYEsee's table, passed out EYEsee's brochure, answered questions from the public, and received eyeglass donations.  Because they engaged the public during these drives, volunteers helped raise public awareness of the two global issues of poverty and environment.  Together, these volunteers have logged over 70 service hours to-date.  Mr. Tom Nall, a faculty at Saint Viator High School and a member of our board of advisors, has been providing his presence and support of during EYEsee's early Sunday morning collection drives.

 

We are aiming to collect additional 5,000 pairs of used eyeglasses in the next 9 weeks.  EYEsee's future collection schedule will cover: The Garlands of Barrington in Barrington (Mar 7), Church of the Holy Spirit Parish in Schaumburg (Mar 7-8), Holy Family Parish in Inverness (Mar 14-15), St. James Parish in Arlington Heights (Mar 21-22), Immanuel Lutheran Parish in Palatine (Mar 28-29), St. Emily Parish in Mt. Prospect (April 4-5), St. Anne Parish in Barrington (Apr 8-9), St. Thomas Becket Parish in Mt. Prospect (Apr 25-26), Addolorata Villa in Wheeling (May 9), and St. Theresa Parish in Palatine (May 23-24).

 

As I stated earlier, our board of advisors guides EYEsee in achieving its stated mission.  They are Father Mick Egan C.S.V., President of Saint Viator High School; Father Corey Brost, C.S.V., a faculty of the Religion Department at Saint Viator High School; and Mr. Tom Nall, a faculty of the History/Social Studies at Saint Viator High School. 

 

In our campaign materials, announcements, volunteer recruitment talks, and interactions with the public during site collection drives, we have made it known that we are collecting used eyeglasses in partnership with Physicians for Peace along with two other humanitarian organizations.  A significant portion of eyeglasses that we recycle this year will go toward supporting your medical missions in Haiti, the Philippines, and the West Bank.  We are very proud and honor to be associated with Physicians for Peace. "

 

To find out how you or your church or school can help, contact us today!
 

 

Last month a team of five Physicians for Peace volunteers traveled to Dipolog and Dapitan Cities in the Philippines to reach out to populations with little or no access to vision care. Organizations in the United States donate medical equipment and eyeglasses to make these missions possible. During this trip, a total of 454 patients were examined and given eyeglasses, a simple gift that can greatly improve someone's life! Several hundred school children were also able to undergo vision screening and be identified for future exams. When you support the Physicians for Peace Seeing Clearly Program, you are providing the gift of sight. Your kindness makes a difference!