17 Gapo kids get free ‘Smile’ operation

Seventeen children from this city will literally have something to smile about after successfully undergoing free hare-lip, cleft lip and palate surgery with the help a non government organization based in Pampanga in cooperation with the local government of Olongapo.

Olongapo City First Lady Anne Gordon helped supervise the surgical operation by volunteer doctors from “Operation Smile-Philippines” for  indigent patients from the city, the province of Zambales and other parts of Central Luzon.

‘’Pinapahalagahan ng administrasyon ni Mayor Bong Gordon ang kalusugan ng mga batang Olongapeno lalo na ang mga batang may physical na kapansanan na dahil sa kahirapan ng buhay ay hindi magawang suma-ilalim sa operasyon na nangangailangan ng mahigit P60,000 hanggang P100,000 bawat isang pasyente,’’ Anne Gordon said in subicbaynews.blogspot.com

‘’Nagpapasalamat din ako sa ‘Kapampangan Development Foundation’ at sa ‘Operation Smile-Philippines’ na naging daan at nagbigay dahilan sa mga bata na ngumiti at patuloy na ngumiti,’’ She added.

City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO) head Gene Eclarino meanwhile said that the beneficiaries and the local government did not spend any centavo during the operation.

‘’Walang sinagot financially ang Olongapo Government at lalong walang sinagot ang mga pasyente dahil ang lahat ay inako ng ‘Kapampangan Development Foundation’. Magmula sa transportation, tirahan, pagkain, hospitalization at doctors fee hanggang sa kanilang pagbalik dito sa Olongapo ay sinagot pa rin ng foundation,’’ she added in the website.

With the successful turnout of the operation Mayor James Gordon Jr. instructed Eclarino to look for indigent people who can benefit with the free operation.