TPDH continues to provide free cleft lip and palate operations

7 years of bringing smiles to more Taguigeños

Taguig-Pateros District Hospital (TPDH) has changed the lives of more than 60 beneficiaries with cleft lip and palate condition since it became one of the partners of Smile Train Philippines beginning in 2010.

 

A concrete testament of this are 7-year-old Yhum Ashley Luciano and 5-year-old Samantha Dorothy Alvez, who both underwent the free reconstructive surgery for cleft lip and palate in TPDH in 2011 and 2014 respectively under the program.

 

The parents of Ashley and Samantha are grateful for the opportunity given by the city. Marvin Luciano, father of Ashley, noted his child had a second surgery in 2015 under the program– also free of charge.

 

“The second surgery of Ashley was a success. We are really thankful not only because there is a Smile Train program, but also because there are TPDH doctors and staff who assisted us from the processing of documents needed for the surgery up until our child’s discharge from the hospital. Thanks to them, both operations were hassle-free,” Luciano explained.

 

John Alvez narrated the preparations they had to undergo for baby Sam’s surgery. He and his wife are thankful to see that baby Sam is now a very energetic young lady who dreams of becoming a doctor, teacher, or a nurse.

 

According to TPDH officer-in-charge Dr. Anna Richie Quilatan, the beneficiaries of the Smile Train program do not have to pay for laboratory tests, pediatric clearance, proper surgery up until their discharge from TPDH.

 

“The Smile Train program enables them to have the chance to repair their cleft lip and palate as early as possible,” Dr. Quilatan added.

 

Dr. Quilatan encouraged those who have cleft lip and palate to visit the TPDH to avail of the program.

 

Smile Train has been providing free cleft lip and palate surgery to children from marginalized families in over 80 countries all over the world. It does this by partnering with local hospitals.

The program was the initiative of Gabriel’s Symphony Foundation, Inc. headed by then Senator and now Taguig City 2nd District Rep. Pia Cayetano which finances the cleft lip and palate operations of its beneficiaries in cooperation with the city’s local-run hospital.

In 2015, the TPDH was recognized as a Mother-Baby Friendly Hospital by the Department of Health (DOH). The city government of Taguig continues to improve the quality of service at the hospital by acquiring new equipment and renovating its facilities.

 

Part of its upgrade is a fully operational ICU, brand new medical equipment including additional beds both for newborns and adults, a CT Scan, an Arterial Blood Gas (ABG) Test Machine which tests blood gas and an Ultrasound Machine.

 

Other significant improvements in health-care services under Mayor Lani Cayetano’s administration include the improved conditions of the 31 barangay health centers, which are all PhilHealth-accredited and the establishment of four (4) Super Health Centers, which offer 24/7 services.

 

Apart from this, there is also a door-to-door delivery of maintenance medicines for diabetes, asthma and hypertension, a citywide eye checkup and distribution of prescription glasses to senior citizens and students and a “Doctors On Call” program which is designed for quick response to emergency calls or text through hotline 0917-8210896 and free home-care nursing services for bedridden patients. ###

 

 

FILIPINO VERSION

 

Pitong taon nang paghahatid ng ngiti sa mga Taguigeño

TPDH patuloy na nagbibigay ng libreng cleft lip, palate operations

 

Nabago ang buhay ng higit 60 na may cleft lip at palate bunga ng partnership sa pagitan ng Taguig-Pateros District Hospital (TPDH) at Smile Train Philippines simula pa noong 2010.

 

Matibay na patunay ng ugnayang ito ang mga magagandang ngiti nina Yhum Ashley Luciano, 7, at Samantha Dorothy Alvez, 5, na parehong sumailalim sa libreng reconstructive surgery ng cleft lip at palate sa TPDH noong 2011 at 2014.

 

Dagdag pa ni Marvin Luciano, ama ni Ashley, sumailalim muli sa libreng surgery ang kanyang anak noong 2015 sa pamamagitan pa rin ng programa.

 

“Naging matagumpay ang ikalawang operasyon ni Ashley,” anya.

 

Bagamat ilang taon na ang nakalilipas mula nang pagkalooban ang kanilang mga anak ng libreng operasyon, patuloy pa rin ang pasasalamat ng mga magulang nina Ashley at Samantha para sa oportunidad na kaloob ng lungsod.

 

“Lubos kaming nagpapasalamat hindi lang dahil mayroong programa gaya ng Smile Train, kung hindi dahil na rin mayroong mga doktor at mga tauhan ng TPDH na tumulong sa amin mula sa pagpo-proseso ng mga dokumentong kailangan para sa operasyon hanggang sa pagkaka-discharge ng aming anak sa ospital, sabi ni Luciano. “Dahil sa kanila, ang parehong operasyon ay hindi nagkaroon ng problema.”

 

Sa pagbabalik-tanaw sa kanilang mga dinanas noong operasyon ng anak na si Samantha, isinalaysay ni John Alvez ang galak nila ng asawa nang makita ang resulta. Ngayo’y bibong bata na si Baby Sam, at nangangarap na maging isang doktor, guro o di kaya’y nars.

 

Ayon kay TPDH officer-in-charge Dr. Anna Richie Quilatan, ang mga benepisyaryo ng programang Smile Train ay hindi nagbabayad mula sa laboratory tests, pediatric clearance, surgery proper hanggang sa paglabas sa ospital.

 

“Natutulungan sila ng programang Smile Train na magkaroon ng pagkakataon na maipasaayos ang kanilang cleft lip at palate nang mas maaga,” dagdag ng doktor.

 

Hinihikayat ni Dr. Quilatan ang mga mayroong cleft lip at palate na pumunta sa TPDH upang maging isa sa mga benepisyaryo ng programa.

 

Nakapagbibigay ang Smile Train ng libreng operasyon sa mga batang mayroong cleft lip at palate mula sa mga mahihirap na pamilya sa higit 80 bansa sa buong mundo sa pamamagitan ng pakikipag-partner nito sa mga lokal na ospital.

Ang programa ay inisyatibo ng Gabriel’s Symphony Foundation Inc. na pinangungunahan ng dating Senador at ngayo’y Taguig City 2nd District Rep. Pia Cayetano na pumupondo para sa mga benepisaryo ng cleft lip and palate operations sa pakikipagtulungan ng ospital ng pamahalaang lungsod.

Samantala, kinilala noong 2015 ang TPDH bilang Mother-Baby Friendly Hospital ng Department of Health.

 

Patuloy ding pinagaganda ng pamahalaang lungsod ng Taguig ang kalidad ng serbisyo sa ospital sa pamamagitan ng pagtugon sa pangangailangan ng bago at makabagong kagamitan, pati na rin ng maayos na mga pasilidad.

 

Parte ng upgrade ng TPDH ang bago at fully operational ICU, bagong medical equipment kagaya ng mga kama para sa mga bagong-silang at matatanda, CT Scan, isang ABG machine na nag-eeksamen ng blood tests, at isang Ultrasound Machine.

 

Ang ilan pa sa mahahalagang pagbabago sa health-care services sa ilalim ng pamumuno ni Mayor Lani Cayetano ay ang pagsasaayos sa 31 Barangay Health Center na PhilHealth-accredited na rin ngayon at ang pagtatayo ng apat na Super Health Centers na nagbibigay ng 24/7 na serbisyo.

 

Idagdag pa dito ang door-to-door delivery ng mga maintenance medicine para sa diabetes, hika at altapresyon, ang city-wide eye checkup at pamimigay ng mga may gradong salamin sa mata para sa mga senior citizen at mga estudyante, ang Doctors On Call program na mabilisang tumutugon sa mga emergency call at text sa hotline 0917-821-0896 at ang libreng home care nursing services para sa mga pasyenteng hirap nang bumangon. ###