REBELS LEADERS, 2,000 OTHERS SERVED IN 1st BANGSAMORO MEDICAL/SURGICAL MISSION

(Photo caption: Opthalmologist Dr. Ed Soriano examines MILF commander Edu Akil of Pikit who was suffering from an eye problem. Photo by John Pagadauan)

A brigade commander and several field commanders of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and their families along with 2,000 residents of the predominantly Bangsamoro towns in North Cotabato received medical attention in the 2-day medical and surgical mission in Taken, Pikit March 2 and 3.

The MILF brigade commander, who requested that his name not be made public, consulted chief of mission Dr. Benedict P. Valdez about a urinary problem and was immediately given sufficient medicines.

Dr. Valdez also gave the brigade commander additional medicines for the MILF officer’s family and men who were not able to go to the medical mission site in Takepan.

Another MILF field commander, Edu Akil of Barangay Bulol, Pikit, sought medical attention from Dr. Ed Soriano, an opthalmologist who determined that the rebel leader was suffering from an eye ailment.

Medicines were prescribed but since these were not available in the supplies that the mission brought with them to Takepan, Pikit, I will personally buy these in Davao City.

While the medical mission was supposed to pack up at about 11 a.m. of March 3, the surgical operation had to be extended to about 1 p.m. as several other patients arrived at about noon yesterday begging that they be served before the doctors would leave.

“Many of them have not even seen a doctor in their whole life,” said my daughter, Dr. Maria Krista A. Pinol-Solis, who was obviously tired but very happy after having served about 500 patients.

“Meron kahapon isang nanay mga 40 years old na, hindi pa nakakita ng doktor sa boung buhay nya,” she said.

Dr. Valdez, the head of mission, recommended that government should focus more of its health services in the Bangsamoro areas in the future.

“It was a great experience and we enjoyed it a lot,” said the chief of mission who brought along 22 nurses and aides who helped during the Bangsamoro medical and surgical mission.