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Pictures:
http://www.pbase.com/danpolley/world
Fruitful Harvest Medical Mission 2001 with
coordinated volunteering efforts by LUSCAN members.
There were 45 health professionals, clergy, and lay volunteers from
Connecticut, Ohio, Texas, and Missouri who went to Loreto, Province
of Dinagat Islands, Philippines. One hundred four (104) surgeries
ranging from skin cysts to goiters, harelips, and C-sections were
performed. The major procedures were done in Surigao City and Cebu
City. Dr. Rowan Labrador, a surgeon from Ohio was stationed in
Surigao Provincial Hospital; and Dr. John Zalem and Dr. Caleb
Paniamogan were in Loreto for minor procedures. Around 2000 pairs of
used and new reading glasses were given out as well as bibles in
Cebuano dialect. Two dentists extracted 397 teeth from 252 patients.
(That’s a lot of teeth!!).
Medicines were purchased from Europe by the King City Baptist Church
and other Churches in Texas involved with the Fruitful Harvest
Mission. Some surgical supplies were provided by the Baptist Medical
Center of Kansas City and Griffin Memorial Hospital of Derby, CT
through the efforts of Luscan’s Dr. Harold Ballares and Dr. Caleb
Paniamogan.
News Briefs for Griffin News, Derby, CT – May 24, 2001
For eight Griffin Hospital employees, an early summer trip to the
Philippines will hardly be a vacation. A group of Griffin doctors,
nurses, medical technicians and physician's assistants will head to
the Philippine Island of Loreto on May 31 on a mission to provide
free medical care for the region's more than 5,000 residents who
have no other means of medical treatment.
The group, which includes Caleb Paniamogan, DO, an osteopathic
physician in Griffin's Emergency Department, Griffin surgeon John
Zelem, M.D., ER nurses Lori O'Rourke and Lori Evans, ER Physician's
Assistant Dan Cervonka, ER technician Grace Malasankas, and
volunteer Jim Pavelka will meet up with others on this two-week
mission sponsored by a Texas-based Baptist organization. The
Fruitful Harvest Ministries was established in 1991. The ministry
has traveled to 9 different countries for medical and evangelical
missions. Dr. Panaimogan's mother was born on the Island of Loreto.
The group has received many donated items from the Griffin Hospital
community as well as former patients, friends and other church
groups particularly Trinity Episcopal Church in Seymour. Items
include obsolete medical equipment and supplies from Griffin
Hospital, new and old eyeglasses, children's clothing, candy, gum,
sticker and lollipops as well as monetary donations from other
Griffin Hospital departments and personnel.
"We are just overwhelmed by the support for this program by
everyone," said Grace Malasankas who pointed out that former
patients who heard about the effort are handing over supplies and
monetary donations. Malasankas said she was floored by a elderly
former patient who handed her $20 she had earmarked for her weekly
Bingo game. "She said she could go without Bingo this month to help
people in the Philippines." Malasankas also recalled the donation of
baby clothes by a woman whose baby died of SIDS and offered the
clothes to thank Griffin's ER staff for all they had done to help
her.
Armed with these donations, the group plans to set up a makeshift
hospital and treat illnesses such as diabetes, tuberculosis, cancer
and others that have gone untreated. The medical staff will likely
see more than 1,000 patients a day who have sold off their
belongings in order to pay for transportation to the hospital
facility in the gymnasium of the Loreto school.
The Griffin contingent has taken two weeks vacation and has paid
their own way in order to minister medical care for these less
privileged residents of Loreto. The group will return to the United
States on June 17.
One World Medicine Medical Mission 2005 with coordinated efforts
by LUSCAN members
“Dr Caleb Paniamogan did it again! I am sure many medical care
recipients appreciate the free medical services they received Thanks
to Dr. Caleb and his
crew of volunteers.”– Glorina Comparativo, President, LUSCAN 2005
Dr. Caleb O. Paniamogan, president of One World Medicine, led a
medical mission team to the Philippines from May 30 to June 3. This
organization was founded in Connecticut with a mission to help
medically underserved places especially in third world countries.
The team saw, and treated 1,815 patients, and gave more than 600 new
and used reading glasses donated by individuals and churches in
Connecticut and in our area.
One World Medicine members with varied specialties from Connecticut
who went with the mission were Dan Cervanka, Lori Evans, Grace
Malasankas, Lori O’rourk, and Jeanie Willets. Other volunteers were
Rene & Butch Lacson, Marilou Pablo, and Prospero Galido from
California; Abraham, Sr. and Jr., Nena and Rose Quijano from
Michigan; Cesar Paniamogan, Jr. and Dan Polley of Nicaragua; Rev. &
Mrs. Cesar Paniamogan and Cephas of Missouri; Willie and Daya
Lisondra of Texas; Carrie Myer and Michelle Wiggins of Wisconsin.
Local health workers led by Dr. Briones, were a big help during the
clinic days.
The organization is funded by tax-deductible donations from
individual members, friends, churches, and other organizations. Dr.
Caleb gratefully acknowledges the cash donations from members of the
Star Chapel UMC, Eagleville Christian Church, and the Cainsville UMC.
The Paniamogans are also grateful for the medicines donated by Dr.
Larry Rabang of Des Moines, IA, and Drs. Cesar & Evelyn Yu of Mt.
Vernon, Illinois.
The mission is also thankful to the municipal government of Loreto
through Mayor Andres Ladaga for the meals provided, and to ex Mayor
Vil and Rev. Paniamogan for the housing of the missioners.
One World Medicine Inc. and Loretenos in U.S.A. and Canada (LUSCAN)
are US tax-exempt organizations.
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