TYPHOON YOLANDA: FLIGHT OF HOPE (FOH) MEDICAL, DENTAL AND RELIEF MISSION

DATES : NOVEMBER 22-23,2013

SITES : BARUGO,LEYTE

BARANGAY CATMON, TANAUAN, LEYTE

The medical-dental missions were done for two days with the following specifics :

November 22 (8 am-5pm)- Barugo Leyte Municipal Grounds

November 23 (11 am- 4pm)- Barangay Catmon,Tanauan,Leyte

Barangay Limbuhan Dacu (Feeding)

Services Rendered : General Consultation (Medical/Pedia/Ob-Gyne)

Vital signs measurement

Cleaning & dressing of wounds

Deworming

Dental extraction

Random Blood Sugar Monitoring (RBS)

Free Medicine

Tetanus injections

Others : Feeding (Nutritional support)

Psychosocial Activities (for children)

Accomplishments :

Day 1 : 751 (711 Medical 40 Dental) patients served

Day 2: 664 (634 Medical 30 Dental) patients served

Total patients : 1425

All patients served were written as to name, age and diagnosis (logbooks were used for documentation) with the following information gathered :

Age Grouping by Percentage:

1.1-4 years old 18 %

2.5-9 years old 14 %

Elderly (60 and above) 12 %

10-14 years old 8 %

45-49 years old 7 %

Less than one year old 6 %

Morbidity By Percentage :

AURI 40 %

FUNGAL INFECTIONS 25%

HYPERTENSION 21%

INFECTED WOUND 8%

SPRAIN/STRAIN 6%

PNEUMONIA 6%

AGE 6%

SKIN DISEASES 5%

ASTHMA/COPD 3%

PUNCTURED WOUND 3%

Other notable illnesses treated : Diabetes, Gastritis, Allergies,& five (5) cases of Post Traumatic Disorders.

Respiratory infections were expected to dominate given the young majority population who were vulnerable and the meager potable water supply. Since water was also crucial, skin infections were many as wound hygiene was compromised. Fungal infections were common especially since rain has been fairly common and a damp environment makes it thrive. Asthma & COPD were common because of concomitant allergens (decomposed materials) and the mere absence of their regular medications. Hypertension among adults was due to unavailability of their maintenance medicine and stress from the Yolanda experience.

Recommendations:

1.Medical outreach should focus on the aforementioned illnesses as these were common among the 3 barangays we served.

2.Drinkable water supply and ORS should be readily available.

3.There is a need for stress debriefing to account for the trauma especially among children and the elderly.

Reported by:

Dr Mechael Angelo G. Marasigan

Flight of Hope Volunteer

Medical Officer III, Quezon City Health Department

President, Quezon City Medical Society

Some action during the Medical and Dental Mission

St. Joseph the Worker Parish Church after the typhoon Yolanda
All the roofs over the Sanctuary were blown away.
The church became an evacuation center for the people.

Parish Priest Rev. Fr. Boboy Robles. 

Flight of Hope (FOH) Doctors and Logistics Support
with Mayor Alden Avestruz (Standing 5th from the left) of Barugo, Leyte..

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