In the wake of the vast, heart-wrenching devastation caused by super typhoon Yolanda in Leyte and Samar, the Philippine Australian Medical Association (PAMA) heeded the call for help and donations.
Dr. Roger Fabian, PAMA Chairman of Medical Missions immediately initiated a fund raising drive, circulated to all officers, members and friends of PAMA. In a matter of 3 days, the association received donations of more than $10,000. As of this writing, the amount has reached more than $16,000 and donations are still pouring in.
Some drug companies also heeded the call for help pledging to donate antibiotics, boxes of skin disease medicines, other kinds of medicines and diabetes test kits.
The UP-PGH Ugnayan ng Pahinungod volunteers headed by the Director, Dr. Eric Talens will spearhead a series of medical missions to the ravaged areas. All donations will be sent to the group. In fact, PAMA has already sent an initial of $6,000 to fund the first medical team to render a medical mission in Leyte that started on November 18 until their supplies are depleted.
Succeeding medical missions will follow after an assessment of immediate medical needs of the people. The team is composed of surgeons, medical and paramedical persons. The group of Dr. Talens has been a partner of PAMA, doing major and minor surgical operations during its yearly medical missions in different parts of the country since 2008. The fund raising drive is still ongoing.
Anyone who [still] wants to donate can contact Dr. Roger Fabian on 0421 893 541 or Dr. Ophee de Vera on 0434 516 734.