MISSION SUMMARY:

 BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVE

The Philippine Island of Negros was identified to be a medically underserved region and ISHI was welcomed to conduct a surgical mission there, with the collaboration of Hon. Governor Alfredo Maranon and local governmental officials. This was ISHI's first surgical mission to Asia and we were hosted by two hospitals, one in Escalante City and the other in Sagay City.

The main industry in this region is sugarcane production, hence many of our patients were either the factory workers, or their family members. As we learned, healthcare in the Philippines is fee for service and surgical care was unaffordable for many of these workers, whose wages are about a dollar a day.

 SUPPLIES AND EQUIPMENT

ISHI volunteers brought all necessary medical supplies and medications for use in the operating rooms and recovery areas. Anesthetics, IV fluids and narcotic pain medications were purchased locally with the aid of the hospital officials. Three cardiac moniters were brought for use during the mission and brought back to the US afterwards.
All unused medications and supplies were donated to the hospitals for their use. ATLS manuals which were donated by the American College of Surgeons were also distributed to the hospitals. Two lectures were given, one at each hospital, on "Assessment of the Trauma patient". The lectures were very well attended- both by hospital staff and nursing students.