The joy of giving

Giving love sums up the work of teams of volunteer physicians, nurses, medical personnel and laypersons  who have been coming all the way from Hawaii to treat  poor and needy people in the Philippines. These volunteers are members of the Ohana Medical Missions, Inc. (OMM) who have been conducting medical missions in the country including typhoon-hit sections in Tacloban. This time, from February 14 to 21, they are in Bagong Silang, Caloocan City; Gawad Kalinga-Aloha Village in Agudo, Mandaluyong; Gerona, Tarlac; Naga City, Legaspi City and Bacacay, Albay.

OMM is a project of the Philippine Medical Association-Hawaii, said to be the best among Filipino organizations in Hawaii. Organized 37  years ago, it counts 100 physicians as members.

Another PMHA project  is the Bayanihan Clinic Without walls, which addresses the health needs of newly arrived immigrants in the United States, to those without medical insurance, until they find jobs. The Bayanihan project was co-founded by Dr. Charlie Sonido in 1997.

Sonido, an active member of OMM, who is with the February 2015 medical mission, said the volunteer physicians and dentists treat children and adults for minor ailments, perform minor surgery in some cases, distribute medicines and  gently-used eyeglasses. They hold fund-raising events to purchase equipment, medical and dental supplies, most of which are donated and the rest purchased. During this first 2015 mission, OMM will donate over $200,000 worth of medications, “in-kind” gifts such as toiletry items, soap and rice, and some 5,000 eyeglasses collected by the Aiea Lions Club.

To date, OMM has received medicines and supplies from AmeriCares and other generous donors. All donations received are tax deductible.

According to Sonido, OMM was established by PMAH members in 2009 to provide health care and health education to indigent patients in the Philippines, Hawaii and other countries. It now focuses its missions to the Philippines, sending teams to places like Isabela, Davao, Cabanatuan, Bicol, Ilocos Sur,  Ilocos Norte, Quezon City and Tacloban.

“We do these missions several times a year because the need is so great,” says Dr. Russell Kelly, OMM president. “Many of our volunteers are repeat participants who have discovered the joys and deep personal fulfillment that come with helping others in need.”

Sonido and his wife, Chona Montesines-Sonido and their children were in Tacloban just days after Typhoon Yolanda struck, and returned there six months later. On the second visit, the doctor was surprised to see the changed atmosphere. “I saw how resilient the survivors were. I was deeply moved, I felt humbled.”

His two children,  medical and pre-med students, found their Tacloban experience uplifting. His daughter, who had previously wanted to become a lawyer,  is now studying to become a doctor.

In his case, Sonido, who lives in Waipahu with his family, said doing missions is his way of “giving back.” He had enjoyed state scholarships when he was taking medicine at the University of Santo Tomas. Chona, a psychology major also at UST,  shares her time and talent   by publishing  the Hawaii Filipino Chronicle, a Honolulu-based  newspaper weekly which focuses on stories on Filipinos and the Philippines,  and helps publicize the OMM visits.

OMM co-chair is Dr. Romeo Perez, a retired US military OB-Gynecologist specialist. Also with the mission is Dr. Carol Davide, the newly inaugurated president of PMA-Hawaii.

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The Philippine Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf, Inc. is currently conducting a deaf awareness campaign as part of its advocacy for communication accessibility for the deaf. In line with this, it is hosting a big event on Saturday, Feb. 28, for the benefit of deaf students.

The project, called “Reach Out,” will feature activities by the deaf, as well as showcase products by deaf-friendly commercial and industrial companies which will be for sale at special prices.  Audiologists from the clinical and audiology program  of the University of the Philippines will conduct free hearing evaluation during the event to be held at the Philippine School for the Deaf compound on Harrison street, Pasay City.

The registration fee of P50 will entitle ticket holders to raffle prizes.

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