Medical Mission: Operation Libreng Tuli

Medical missions are numerous during the summer months. I use to hold mine in my own clinic also during these months. I do it by giving samples for cough, colds, diarrhea, fever, deworming, and multivitamins. I ask samples for such project from drug companies, and they send me boxes of these so generously. When samples do not suffice because of high turn-out of patients,or when samples do not arrive on time, I buy these medicines using my own money.

The problem with this kind of medical mission is that most people who come are not actually sick at the time. They just come to ask for medicines for their future use. They hoard these medicines for use of all family members. And since dosages differ in every individual especially in children where they are based on the patient's weight, the actual purpose of the mission is defeated. That's why most doctors lose interest doing this type of medical missions. Aside from saving money, the patients do not really benefit from such kind of practice.

Operation Tuli (circumcision) is another kind of medical mission. Unlike just giving medicines for patients to take home, doctors perform the operation on-site. And since the procedure is expensive if done in clinics, patients and their families really appreciate it. But just like anything free, this also has a down side to it. Transmission of diseases (like Hepatitis B) are not 100% prevented.

This summer, my husband and I were part of several operation libreng tuli. One of these was hosted by Alfonso Lee Sin Memorial Lodge no. 158, F. & A. M., at Bonuan Boquig, Dagupan City, Philippines. They'll be hosting another one this weekend, May 11, 2008. For those who live near the area and are still uncircumcised, this is another chance before the school days begin.