41 patients avail free eye cataract surgery in So. Leyte

By Marcelo M. Pedalino

Tuesday 15th of January 2013

MAASIN CITY, Southern Leyte, Jan. 15 (PIA) -- A team of doctors from the Department of Health (DOH) based at Eastern Visayas Regional Medical Center (EVRMC) in Tacloban City conducted a three-day free eye cataract operation here last week, in coordination with a Parish-based group and the provincial government.

Some 41 individuals coming from various places of this city and the province availed of the free cataract surgery, according to Dr. Joselito Trumata, Provincial Health Officer at the Salvacion Oppus Yniguez Memorial Provincial Hospital (SOYMPH).

Trumata said the operation, which began Tuesday and ended Thursday, was led by Dr. Lemuel Gatchalian, head of the Eye, Ear, Nose, and Throat (EENT) Department of EVRMC, and Dr. Augusto, Chief of the EVRMC’s Department of Anesthesiology.

Assistants from Edmund Rice, Inc. of the Maasin Diocese also rendered service, he added.

Trumata said the free cataract operation has been a regular undertaking of the DOH team of doctores every year, touring all around the region. Last year, they were conducting the same activity in three places for Southern Leyte province, here in the city, Sogod, and Anahawan.

This year, the team has been expected to come back again in the province, the next time either in Sogod or Anahawan, but no definite schedules were set yet, Trumata said.

Cataract, although common among the elderly in the 70s or 80s, can also afflict the young, Trumata said, adding that in last week’s free surgery the youngest patient was a seven year old child. (mmp/PIA8-Southern Leyte)