PH-Laos Friendship Cleft Mission brings brighter smiles to 49 Lao patients

Organized by the Philippine Band of Mercy (PBM) and Smile Train Philippines, the very first Philippines-Laos friendship Cleft Mission was held at the Lao Military Hospital 103 in Vientiane, Laos from August 25 to 30, 2018.

The medical mission was coordinated by the Philippine Embassy in Vientiane with the Medical Corps Department of the Lao Ministry of National Defense. The Global Shapers Vientiane Hub, an informal civil society organization in Laos, also provided assistance to identify Lao patients for the mission.

Healing hands

Two Filipino plastic surgeons, three anesthesiologists, and two nurses were sent on the medical mission to perform cleft lip/palate surgeries on 49 Lao patients from Vientiane Capital and other Lao provinces. The Philippine medical team also provided lectures and training for the doctors and nurses who assisted during the surgeries.

Dr. Hector Santos, PBM Medical Director and chief plastic surgeon of the medical team, conveyed his optimism that the medical mission would improve bilateral relations between the Philippines and Laos, specifically in the health sector. He also said he is hoping that there will be many future medical missions of PBM and Smile Train in Laos.

Meanwhile, Hospital 103 Medical Director Colonel Souliphanh Phetchanthala expressed his appreciation to the Philippine medical team as well as the wish of Lao doctors, nurses, and patients for the medical team to return to Laos in the near future.

A healthy future through collaboration

Efforts such as the Cleft Mission are encouraging, with more and more events and projects promoting collaboration of different medical practitioners all over the world.

Earlier this month, an EU business mission traveled to the Philippines to introduce innovations in health care and medical technologies.