QUEZON CITY (Mindanao Examiner / Feb. 2, 2012) – Two non-government organizations ran and supported by people living on their “bonus lives” following their heart operations held a medical mission giving free ECG (electrocardiogram) tests and heart medicines to people suspected to have heart problems in a slum area in Quezon City in the Philippines.
The Beautiful Heart Foundation, Inc. (www.beautifulheart.net) and the Kristiyano-Islam Peace Library (www.krislibrary.com) founded by Dr. Anacleto B. Millendez and former reporter Armand Dean Nocum, respectively, on Tuesday conducted free ECG, diabetes check and free clinic to about 100 mostly older people and children living in the slum area in the village of Holy Spirit.
“We see no better way of starting the celebration of the World Heart Month in February than by giving the gift of a good heart to poor people who are virtual walking time-bombs, like what me and Mr. Nocum were before our successful heart operations,” said US-based Dr. Millendez.
But Dr. Millendez explained that as a US citizen, he was lucky because due to the good health care program there, he only paid US $5 (about P214.5) in his second angioplasty. The usually expensive procedure involves the surgical repair of a blood vessel by inserting a balloon-tipped catheter to unblock it and the placement of micro wire mesh called stents to keep it open.
“Unfortunately, here in the Philippines people just drop dead from heart attack because they are too poor to have their hearts checked. When they do get to know their conditions and they are unable to raise the up to a million of funds needed for an angioplasty or bypass operation, they are just told to go home and live their final days well with family and friends,” said Nocum, who underwent an angioplasty operation to unblock five heart veins which were 99 percent closed at the Saint Luke’s Medical Center in 2010.
Still, Nocum – a public relations executive and a car dealer – said he too counts himself lucky for the early diagnose of the disease and for having the means for the operation. Both Nocum and Dr. Millendez said they have embarked on their respective advocacies partly to thank God for their “bonus lives.”
“My heart may stop beating one day but the beautiful heart will live forever in men and women like you,” Dr. Millendez wrote in his website.
Last Wednesday, Dr. Millendez brought his portable ECG machine to the Kris Library headquarters located at a slum area in Barangay Holy Spirit, one of Quezon City’s poorest barangays, to check on the condition of the poor people there. Those found with cardiac abnormalities were given medicines and advised to undertake further blood and cholesterol test; and to change their lifestyle so as not to worsen their heart conditions.
Dr. Millendez also expressed alarm that a big number of people at the barangay are suffering from diabetes which may also affect their hearts, liver and lead to their deaths. Many children were also found to be malnourished. He noted that as in the US, heart disease and diabetes are top killer diseases here.
Dr. Millendez was assisted by colleagues Dr. Susana Caseria, Dr. Vilma Ramos and Kris co-founder Annora Sahi Nocum, who is a nurse. All the three doctors promised to hold similar activities in different parts of the country soon.
Nocum said that those who want to help future medical missions as volunteers or to donate cash, medicines and other stuff for the poor may bring their donations Kris Library at No. 9, Dona Isidora Street, Don Antonio Heights, Diliman in Quezon City or at Dean & Kings Legal PR and Communications Marketing firm located at Suite 300, Kimvi Realty & Dev’t Bldg, 1191 Maria Orosa St., Ermita, Manila (see http://www.krislibrary.com/contact-us.html for map and direction) or call +63919-5897879, (+63 2) 3522313 and (+63 2) 7030040.
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