CAMP GUILLERMO NAKAR, Lucena City – Military doctors from the Southern Luzon Command (SOLCOM) are now undertaking in this camp the “Smiles for Free” project that provides free surgery and related treatment to cleft palate patients in far-flung villages of Quezon province.
The project is in partnership with the Philippine Band of Mercy.
In a report on Monday, Major General Benjamin R. Madrigal Jr, SOLCOM commander, said the cause-oriented activity’s objective is to demonstrate to the community that their armed forces do not only focus on the elimination of various threat groups who sow fear to the communities but also to look after their health and welfare.
“We are also their partner in maintaining a healthy populace, especially in the geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas (GIDAs) where the need for health services is high,” Madrigal said.
The military’s health services at the SOLCOM Station Hospital embarked on “Smiles for Free” beginning Sept. 27 to reach out to the countryside where they target the poor patients who hardly have access to health, medical and surgical services.
“This is our simple way of showing them that we are here to help and to let them know that we, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) care for them and love them,” the SOLCOM commander said.
Lieutenant Colonel Leogardo D. Leonen, commanding officer of Camp Nakar Station Hospital expressed elation that their military doctors and medical personnel were able to team up with the Band of Mercy doctors in conducting the free cleft surgery to indigent patients.
The activity aims to continue to reach out to target the scores of patients in remote areas “who are financially challenged and cannot afford to pay for a simple operation that has been around for decades.”
“As military doctors and nurses, we do not only care for the men and women in uniform, but also patients who may be enemies of the state because first and foremost we are doctors and nurses by profession,” Leonen said. (PNA)
