Bambanense President Cenon "Nonie" dela Cruz, together with members of the San Diego Lions Club organized and led a medical mission to serve the under-privileged population of Bamban and four other towns in Pampanga. Our nurse townmate, Lolita, and her husband, Pat Samson, joined Nonie in this ministry of love to those in need. Arrangements were made so that eleven to fifteen resident physicians from UST were on hand to treat the long lines of patients continuously from 9:00 A.M. to 3:00 P.M. each day of the Mission. Dinner was served to the indefatigable doctors in individual, disposable cartons.
On Feb. 5, 2007, Bamban Mayor Florante Cojuangco and Medical Health Officer Dra. Ming Labrador-Ignacio took the medical mission to Sacobia, where majority of the residents were Aetas displaced by the Mount Pinatubo eruption. Patients were treated at the baranggay elementary school. Meanwhile, Lita Samson and the Bamban Clinic nurses and midwives helped the physicians and performed blood glucose testing on diabetics.
The San Diego Lions brought thousands of reading glasses and medicines (such as Tylenol, Motrin, antibiotics, cough medicines, anthelmintics, and antihypertensives).
The Bamban Health Center provides free services one day a week for pregnant women, another day for children and the rest of the week for the general public. The nurses hold community health classes. The Clinic has nine midwives, one for each baranggay and on call 24/7.
Nonie dela Cruz coordinated all the events and necessities including food for the Medical Mission. After a hard day's work, the doctors, nurses, and members of the Medical Mission were served a sumptuous dinner in the late afternoon. This was served at the Mayor's Resort in Baranggay Dapdap. So profuse in his gratitude to those who worked, Nonie had two large lechons (roasted pigs) served during the evening meal in Bamban. Pat Samson was in charge of photography and recording the event for our Bambanese townmates who did not make it to the Medical Mission. By 7:00 P.M., the UST medics were transported back to Manila.
A week later, Nonie, together with Pat and Lita Samson visited Mayor Cojuangco and Dra. Labrador-Ignacio. The Samsons donated a large box containing Metformin (an oral drug for diabetics), 2 glucometers, lancets and test strips for the Clinic. Nonie donated an air-conditioning unit to the Bamban police Department, making a lot of officers happy.
Our thanks and gratitude to Nonie, the Samsons, the San Diego Lions, the UST docs, and everyone who helped make the Medical Mission a success in serving our indigent townspeople. We hope this is just the beginning of a series of Medical Missions for our needy "kabalens".
