GlobalGiving.org: Healthcare to Volcano Victims in the Philippines

Cataract surgery

Joycelyn A. Datu, MD — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 18:23:12 GMT

January has been a busy month. Dr. Eric Lohse and his wife Vicki (an RN) came to the JADMC from Illinois. Together with our staff they completed 61 cataract surgeries and 39 pterygium surgeries. Due to the lack of surgical microscopes they worked until 3 am each night to accomplish this goal. We have three and one of them broke down...in fact, the ideal number to support such high demand would be six operating microscopes. We are trying to raise funds to purchase gently used ones. We are learning more about the equipment that we have and are definitely getting there. Through Physicians for Peace, equipment donated by the Love for Life Foundation will hopefully arrive this month so we can use them for the next mission. We are now planning another Cataract Mission for February 21-24. We hope that with your help we can complete our needed supplies to help those in need SEE clearly!

Bigger and Better

Joycelyn A. Datu MD — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 16:46:50 GMT

We are happy to report that the Jesus A. Datu Medical Center (JADMC) is growing exponentially!

October marked the groundbreaking of the Ear, Nose, and Throat Center. This will be located in a new building behind the JADMC, offering harelip, cleft palate, and microsurgeries of the ear. It also marked the inauguration of the Ambulatory Surgical Center for Cataract Surgery.

The Prosthetic Lab churns out 15-20 prosthetics per month. Next to the lab is a Rehabilitation Center overseen by Arellano University to help the recipients become accustomed to their prosthetic.

We are the lucky recipients of significant medical equipment donations. Our deepest gratitude to Drs. Jess Yap, Gino Ang, and Winston Magno of the Connecticut Association of Philippine Physicians for their donation of two anesthesia machines, and to Dr. Conrad Zapanta for his donation of a surgical microscope. Physicians For Peace in Virginia has been kind enough to ship these large pieces from the U.S. to the JADMC.

Our other programs are going strong:

satellite clinics to remote areas of Pampanga bringing healthcare to those who cannot afford transportation to the JADMC
midwife education lecture programs
well family clinics
mother/child clinics
dental clinics
distribution of eyeglasses and hearing aids

We continue to rely on donations and service organizations to keep us going. We are actively working on obtaining PHILHEALTH licensure for long-term sustainability.

Thank you for your ongoing support!

Ambulatory Surgical Center

Joycelyn A. Datu, MD — Thu, 01 Sep 2011 12:52:14 GMT

The Ambulatory Surgical Center (ASC) was inaugurated last month. In order for it to be fully operational, which entails we need to complete some requirements as stated by the Department of Health. These include the following equipment:

UV light
cardiac monitor
loupe
cataract sets
biometry machines

We have reached out to several organizations that specialize in donating used medical equipment and are hopeful for a positive response.

We have applied for PHILHEALTH accreditation which allows us to operate our programs and obtain reimbursement for it, thus allowing us to be self-sustaining. However, in order for us to be credentialed, we need the equipment the Department of Health requires.

We need three KVA transformers so that the first floor can accommodate air-conditioning. We need P297,000 (approximately $7,000) to buy and install these.

Meanwhile, the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes office has offered a grant of P 2 million for the year 2011. So far, P500,000 has been released and is being used to pay for the medicines and expenses for the prosthetics, mother and child clinic, and the harelip and cataract medicines and supplies.

Manwhile, we continue to offer the mother and child clinics, dental and eye screenings, and post-op checks for cataract patients.

Disability services

Joycelyn A. Datu MD — Wed, 15 Jun 2011 23:47:35 GMT

June 14, 2011 marked the inauguration of the Prosthetics Laboratory at the Dr. Jesus A. Datu Medical Center. 10 new prosthetics, manufactured on site, were distributed without charge to those in need. Brigadier General Ron Sconyers, Worldwide President of Physicians for Peace, was the guest of honor. This makes the JADMC the first and only charity hospital for the disabled in Asia and the Pacific. The JADMC is now the center for four disability services:

1. Blind (glaucoma, cataracts, glasses)

2. Deaf (hearing aid distribution)

3. Speech (harelip surgery and speech therapy)

4. Amputees (prosthetics)

Current projects at the JADMC

Joycelyn A. Datu MD — Thu, 31 Mar 2011 15:44:45 GMT

The Jesus A. Datu Medical Center continues to serve the community in a variety of ways.

1. Resource mobilization

The rotary clubs of Pampanga will participate in a matching grant program to fund the following:

harelip and cleft palate surgery
cataract surgery
Mother Child Charity Clinic
Birthing Clinic
mobile clinic
Prosthetics lab

The total amount we are requesting is 5M pesos for each project.

2. Projects at JADMC

there is now a full-time midwife. Within a month, we will be fully accredited as a Birthing Clinic
we are advertising for a full-time opthalmologist. We are still awaiting the donation of equipment necessary to make the Eye Center complete
200 pterygium cases will be performed April 31-May 1
screening and measuring of prosthetics will take place April 16. The goal is to provide fifteen prosthetics every month
everyday we offer prenatal exams, blood pressure checks, and EKGs
free circumcisions take place once a week
a mobile clinic will work with municipal health officers and various NGO's to provide medical consultations to the surrounding communities

3. Renovations

we need to install a wire mesh on the entrance ramp to make it safer
a shed needs to be built in the back to house the generator
two scrub tubs need to be installed as required by code
almost every room has an air conditioning unit

JADMC Progress Report

Joycelyn A. Datu MD — Thu, 30 Dec 2010 16:37:53 GMT

The Jesus A. Datu Medical Center has been the hub of many projects simultaneously over the past few months.

On December 11 we had a cataract screening of 376 patients. With the help of 4 volunteer opthalmologists and 3 optometrists, 123 of these patients were found eligible for surgery. The other cases consisted of glaucoma patients and those who needed glasses. 170 eyeglasses were distributed to the latter group. Patients arrived as early as 5 a.m.! 10 tents had to be borrowed from the City Mayor's office to accommodate them.

A 3 day pterygium mission for more than 300 cases is planned in January, 2011. The cataract surgeries will also be done in January once we obtain the ambulatory clinic permit for the JADMC which is expected in January or February, 2011.

The weekly Mother Child Charity clinic continues every Friday with volunteer physicians (internal medicine, pediatrics, and OB/GYN). The Arellano research on Maternal and Infant Mortality for the town of Bacolor is ongoing, with 12 full time nurses supervised by a clinical nurse. Their research will establish the benchmark for the Zero Maternal and Infant Mortality Program for the entire province of Pampanga. In other words, for the Pampanga Province Zero Maternal and Infant Mortality Program, we have started with Bacolor because this is where the JADMC is located. The Mother Child Charity Clinic has so far treated more than 1,100 children and pregnant mothers in Bacolor and neighboring towns. This includes free medicines, volunteer doctors, and referrals for difficult pregnancies.

The World Medical Relief will assist us with providing more equipment for the eye clinic, laboratory, radiology, and operating tables.

We have 2 prosthetics technicians undergoing their final months of training. They will be based at the JADMC, where the prosthetics laboratory will be based.

Mother Child Charity Clinic

Joycelyn A. Datu, MD — Thu, 30 Sep 2010 12:41:43 GMT

The Mother Child Charity Clinic takes place every Friday at the Jesus A. Datu Medical Center. Each Friday is assigned to various organizations, such as the Rotary Club, Lions' Club, Soroptimists, Kapampangan Development Foundation, and Datu Angeles David Foundation, among other volunteers. Obstetricians, Gynecologist, Pediatricians, and Internal Medicine physicians all volunteer their time to staff the clinic. At the most recent clinic, 238 pediatric, 65 OB/GYN, and 123 medical cases for a total of 426 patients were served.

We are close to obtaining our Level 1 License to Operate General Services. This will allow us to operate an ambulatory cataract surgical unit with Philhealth reimbursement. Also upcoming is the transfer of a Prosthetics Lab from its present location at Clark Airfield to the Jesus A. Datu Medical Center.

Status Report on Jesus A. Datu Medical Center

Joycelyn A. Datu MD — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 14:29:44 GMT

On July 10, the JADMC medical equipment donated by World Medical Relief was delivered. It includes a Phaeco machine and 2 lasers giving us the capability to do cataract and glaucoma surgeries. With equipment now delivered and renovations done, we have filed the application permit for a Level 1 General Services Hospital. Meanwhile we are installing wirings, transformers, and purchasing a generator as part of the requirements. The process for the License to Operate takes one month. The month of August will be used to hire all the doctors and staff for the JADMC. We will be meeting with the Arellano University and Fatima University management regarding how they can supply us with the needed personnel. The newly elected Mayor of Bacolor has committed the full support of their local government for the project. The Mother and Child Clinic will happen every Friday of the month beginning August 20. The Rotary Clubs have donated $4,000 to purchase medicines and supplies for this year.

Links:

www.loveforlifefoundation.org

Zero Maternal and Infant Mortality

Joycelyn A. Datu MD — Tue, 04 May 2010 13:36:59 GMT

We are excited about the ongoing events at the Jesus A. Datu Medical Center! We are playing the central role in the "Pampanga Zero Maternal and Infant Mortality Campaign". This project will establish 30 midwife-owned clinics under the social franchise brand name of Well Family Midwife Clinics (WFMCs). The JADMC will be the hub of this program, serving as a birthing clinic and as a training hospital for the midwives. We, along with our partner Kapampangan Development Foundation, are raising funds for the training of the midwives. Working alongside the Rotary Club, World Medical Relief, Knightsbridge International, among others, we are receiving donations of equipment as well as food for undernourished mothers.

We are working with the Municipal Social Welfare and Development Officers to help us identify indigent patients for our ongoing cataract, medical, and harelip/cleft palate projects.

We plan to do a weekly free clinic (to begin with) for children and mothers as part of the Maternal and Child Care component of our program.

Our goal is to promote a ZERO maternal and infant mortality for the province of Pampanga in 5 years through a community-based approach.

Medical Mission

JOYCELYN A. DATU MD — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 00:12:52 GMT

Part of the group

The LFLF worked alongside the Kapampangan Development Foundation (KDF) and the Datu Angeles David Foundation and held its annual medical/dental/cataract mission February 12-13, 2010 and Feb 19-21, 2010. Over 500 medical and dental patients were seen. Approximately sixty cataract patients were successfully operated. In addition to the daily operation of the JADMC, we plan to conduct these medical missions annually.

Dr. Joycelyn A. Datu

Dr. Trinidad Roque Arcilla

We Have Joined Forces!

JOYCELYN A. DATU MD — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 07:30:42 GMT

On November 7, 2009 our foundation made a formal agreement with the Kapampangan Development Foundation of the Philippines to make the Jesus A. Datu Medical Center the major cataract center for the province of Pampanga. Other plans for the JADMC include: a birthing center, cleft palate surgeries, prosthesis lab, health education for nurses and midwives, as well as providing routine emergency care, medical, and dental care. These services will be offered to the indigent population of the area and will be provided by volunteers. We look forward to making the JADMC the prototypefor providing affordable healthcare for the poor of the Philippines! Thank you for your ongoing support.

PROJECT UPDATE

JOYCELYN A. DATU, MD — Wed, 13 May 2009 18:29:39 GMT

JADMC patient room

The inauguration of the Jesus A. Datu Medical Center took place on February 12, 2009. That same week the Love For Life Foundation conducted a medical mission at the Center where over 500 medical and dental patients were treated. 66 indigent patients underwent free cataract operations under the sponsorship of the Kampampangan Development Foundation and the Datu Angeles David Foundation.

JADMC

Dr. Janet Trinidad, Municipal Health Officer

PROJECT UPDATE

JOYCELYN A. DATU MD — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 17:02:49 GMT

The town of Bacolor, Pampanga is slowly coming back to life. People in resettlement areas are returning home and rebuilding in their hometown. Ironically Bacolor has become somewhat of a tourist destination because its architecture was buried under 50 feet of mud, and only the steeples of the churches can be seen. The Love For Life Foundation, with your help, conducted a medical mission to this underserved area. 100 toothbrushes with toothpaste were distributed to the children. 2 boxes of prenatal vitamins were also provided.

Your contribution also helped support the building of the Dr. Jesus A. Datu Medical Center, a non-profit full service facility which was inaugurated February 12, 2009. This will serve as our headquarters for future service to the community.

Please let us know what you think of our updates in the comments section.

Links: