Tag: medical mission

Posted on

Coordinating Japan Heart for International Medical Assistance

During November 2015 through January 2016, AWH coordinated a non-profit & non-government organization called Japan Heart, which dispatches Japanese volunteer medical doctors and nurses to ASEAN countries, with governmental organizations in the Philippines in order to provide their medical assistance in case of national emergencies.

AWH introduced Japan Heart to 4CDG-ARESCOM (4th Regional Community Defense Group, Army Reserve Command) and visited Colonel Pasqual at Camp Eldridge, Los Banos, Laguna. It was agreed that 4CDG-ARESCOM would facilitate land-transportation for emergency medical mission of Japan Heart in the region 4A (CALABARZON) & 4B( MIMAROPA)

20160113_094305 (Medium) 20160129_102129 (Medium) 20160129_105926 (Medium) IMG_5399[1] (Large)Next, as an accredited charity foundation, AWH contacted DSWD (Department of Social Welfare Development) Region 4A office in Alabang and Japan Heart representative Ms. Mika Aono and a neurosurgeon Dr. Miki Kanaji from Japan who volunteered in Myanmar with Japan Heart visited the regional director Leticia Diokno. After understanding the intention of Japan Heart, Director Diokno kindly set up a meeting with director Dr. Gloria Balboa of Department of Health in Health Emergency Management Bureau next day for Japan Heart.

20160128_153154 (Large)Dr. Balboa summoned Chief Health Program Officer Dr. Joel Buenaventura and Medical Specialist Dr. Ronald Law of Bureau of International Health Cooperation and a meeting was held at DOH office in Santa Cruz, Manila.

AWH and Japan Heart learned that at the time of typhoon Haiyan (Filipino name: Yolanda), there were a lot of confusion and turmoil coordinating with foreign voluntary medical teams as there were many foreign organization visited to help and no regulations set at that time. Now there is a bill constructed to deal with such National disaster emergency and PIHAC (Philippine International Humanitarian Assistance Cluster) was established. PIHAC is authorized on behalf of the other department such as  DFA (Department of Foreign Affairs) and DOH to handle and coordinate foreign voluntary organizations which come to assist in case of emergency. Basically in normal time PRC (Professional Regulation Commission) licenses are required to conduct medical services in the Philippines. However, it will be waived with pre-registration with DOH as a foreign voluntary organization.

Japan Heart confirmed to work on the application documents for pre-registration.   20160129_144700 (Medium) IMG_5433[1] (Large)

Posted on

Indigent Family Support with Overseas Guestss

Guests from overseas, largely Japan, had assisted donation of clothing, rice, food materials to the indigent families of the squatter village in barangay Mangas II, Alfonso, Cavite. Totally 5 days in different groups AWH staff took them to the site where clothing, rice, staples and baked goods were distributed as to the needs of the families.DSCF6144 (Medium) 20150216_144507 (Medium) 20150216_144943 (Medium) DSCF6137 (Medium) DSCF6016 (Large)An undernourished single mother at Gulug Mangas II, asked for assistance for her baby born in 2014 as it had a golfball-size swelling on her left arm. Pediatrician Dr. Nasu from Japan visited AWH and also the site and diagnosed the swelling as possible infantile venous hemangioma which usually shrinks naturally after 1 year from birth.

20150216_145729 (Medium)20150216_145902 (Medium)Another baby who was 10 days old at that time seemed all right but Dr. Nasu diagnosed as possible hyperbilirubinemia due to an indication of slight jaundice. It is however normal for some new born babies so just further observation was advised.DSCF6138 (Medium)DSCF6122 (Medium)