By Jefferson M. Somera
KUTA SANG-AN – The 1st Infantry (Tabak)
Division, Philippine Army in partnership with Mabuhay Deseret Foundation and
Alpha Phi Omega- Southern Zamboanga Alumni Association (APO-ZOSA ALAS)
successfully conducted the 2-day free cataract operation at Kuta Sang-an
Station Hospital, Pulacan, Labangan, Zamboanga del Sur that started yesterday
around 9:30 in the morning.
The project had provided free services to the soldiers
and less fortunate indigents in the area of Western Mindanao who have sight or
visual problem especially cataract and pterygium cases. After two (2) days of
operation, the team had successfully operated 54 indigent patients mostly
belonging to Subanen tribe.
Beforehand, the team had conducted two days
pre-screening operation last 19 May and 12 June 2013 respectively, out of 311
pre-screened patients coming from the four corners of the Command area of
responsibility, only 54 qualified to go through eye surgery operations and
subsequently entitled for free medicines.
During
the culmination program, BGen Felicito Virgilio M Trinidad Jr, Acting Division
Commander, thanked the partner agencies who had made the activity successful by
saying; “We find this Project Brotherhood Operation Saving Sight (BOSS)
a rewarding experience knowing that as members of organizations moved by public
service, we were able to contribute in improving each patient’s quality of life
that comes with the restoration of his vision. The activity is a concrete
testimony that “Bayanihan” is very much alive. Let project BOSS be succeeded by
similar activities that intend to extend help to our less fortunate kababayans
in order to sustain our traditional and social responsibility of selfless
dedication to the cause of the service.”
