Last November 22-24, 2013, just few days after super typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan) brought devastation to Eastern Visayas region including Ormoc City in Leyte, the St. Luke’s Medical Center extended their help to reach out the survivors by providing them with medical care and delivered relief goods.
Through the donations of and coordination with St. Luke’s Medical Center Foundation, Inc. (SLMCFI), Dr. Domino was able to pull together a team of doctors and a good amount of medical supplies to conduct amedical mission in his hometown. Joining him were St. Luke’sdoctors Bernie Singson, Sylvia Bernardino, Kaye Panganiban, Ruari Lee, Bea Ang, Edna Llido, Raymond Belmonte, Lavinia Espiritu and Lester Mike Chua. With the assistance on the ground from Energy Development Corporation (EDC) and the Ormoc City Health Office, the team was able to set up base and move from one barangay to the other to reach as many residents as they can.Dr. Domino relates, “One of the barangay captains during the mission mentioned to us how grateful he was to have us come to their barangay. We were the first group of doctors to have conducted a medical mission at their place since the typhoon struck. And it was already two weeks since Yolanda hit Ormoc.”
Out of five hospitals in the area, the team learned that only two were operational a few days after the storm, limitingthe number of residents who could access medical care. “Respiratory illnesses were common. They had colds, cough and fever. Many were wounded but fortunately, they were given anti-tetanus drugs during the early stages of relief operations,” Dr. Domino observed. So manyof the sick and weak turned up at their tents that the team even worked with flashlights in the dark of night just to be able to attend to all of them.
By the end of themission, the St. Luke’s medical team had visited 4 barangays (Alta Vista, Mabini, Malbasag and San Isidro) and served approximately 800 people. The help does not end there as St. Luke’s, through SLMCFI, plans to give long-term aid to target communities in the Visayas. According to government estimates, rehabilitation may take several years. Among St. Luke’s planned activities include continuous medical missions with doctors alternating schedules, assistance in hospital rehabilitation and the construction of houses through GawadKalinga. Fundraising projects will also continue till the following year to ensure that affected areas will consistently receive aid.
