WELLNESS AND DISEASE PREVENTION MISSION
Naga City, Philippines
August 11-16, 2011
MISSION REPORT
The Charity Mission was sponsored by the World Outreach Foundation and the Aloha TriSports Foundation. It was co-sponsored by the Racela Educational and Charitable Foundation, the Kohala Creative Construction LLC. and Bikeworks Kona. It was hosted by the Naga City Penafrancia Leo and Lions Clubs. Many individuals in Kansas City and in Kona Hawaii contributed monies and goods to make this Mission a success.
Twenty three (23) members flew from Hawaii and Kansas City and were joined by 6 members from Manila and 6 nurses from Naga City. They worked with the Leos and Lions, with the cooperation of the office of the Vice Governor of Camarines Sur and the administration of San Antonio School, Tinago Grade and High Schools, and the Chief of Tinago Barangay, Naga City. Special note of thanks to Dr. and Mrs. Ramon DyRagos and Lion Godofredo Uy (Awi) who made most of the vital local arrangements. Lions President Ena Molave arranged the local transportation.
Aside from the goodwill we generated, our mission was directed to ways of preventing illnesses. We had several talks to the schoolchildren about health and made demonstrations of oral hygiene to the grade school. A lecture on the benefits of Moringa products were given and highlighted the high protein, vitamin and mineral content of this tropical plant. A lecture on hypertension and diabetes was given by Dr. Ramon DyRagos in the Tinago Community Center. At the Tinago Schools and Community Center, diabetic screening was done. Of the 257 adults tested, 20 were found to have diabetes or pre-diabetes. Only two knew they were diabetic. Twenty seven patients were examined by Dr. Ramon dy-Ragos and given prescriptions, including most of the positive cases. Others were advised to see their doctors particularly one patient that had extremely high blood sugar. It was satisfying to discover diabetes in an early stage discovered in a 30 year old mother, who was unaware of the disease. Others were counseled and referred for follow up with the Lions Club for repeat tests. The Lions Club was given 5 test kits including glucose strips. Following advice on the hazards of prolonged sun exposure, 200 pairs of dark glasses were distributed. Ninety (90) patients were screened for hypertension by the nurses. The value of professional services rendered amount to $39,600.00.
At the Tinago Grade School, 100 pupils were gathered as they were diagnosed as malnourished by Body Mass Index. After a lecture on nutrition, we distributed 1500 Moringa Pills to these children, doubling the amount to those with severe malnutrition.
The oral health demonstration and art work sessions with the grade school kids were fun and very much appreciated. We donated school supplies to both high school and grade schools. The excitement was palpable in the high school with distribution of the shoes and clothes.
The mission donated quite a bit to the Tinago community and the San Antonio and Tinago Schools. The value of the goods and medicines (Moringa Pills) we donated come to approximately $60,000. The goods distributed among others consisted of 100 new K-Swiss shoes and 210 slightly used athletic shoes, 200 dental kits, 50 new sport shirts and 300 slightly used sports clothes.
The mission was capped by Dinner on August 15, 2011 for the Mission Teams and the officers and members of the Penafracia Leo and Lions Clubs hosted by Kohala Creative Construction LLC.
A lot of people in both countries contributed to make this Charity Mission a success, and our gratitude is sincerely extended. The leadership of Janet Miller, President of Aloha TriSports Foundation made it easy for us to conduct the mission. We surely did a positive difference in the lives of a lot of residents of Naga City particularly the children.
Tony Racela Jr. M.D. Jerry Smith
Mission Director Associate Executive Director
Here are images of this mission:
