Dr. Dorothy Dy-Agsaoay, burn rehab consultant of the burn care team at Philippine General Hospital, is passionate about making people aware of the need for the physical rehabilitation of burn victims. She told the recent First National Conference on Burn Care at Hyatt Hotel that a burn victim must be rehabilitated upon admission for emergency treatment.
She works with Dr. Glenn Genuino, head of the burn unit team, and Dr. Jonald Nadal, a burn and plastic surgery resident in PGH.
In my interview, Agsaoay cited the case of a 15-year-old boy, Billy from Cauayan, Isabela, who was admitted to the PGH nine months after he had been electrocuted when the curtain rod he was holding caught fire. With the help of a financial institution, Billy was rehabilitated. “The rehabilitation process for the burn injury employs daily intensive physical therapy and occupational therapy,” Agsaoay said.
Costly
Agsaoay regrets that although rehabilitation is integral in the treatment of burn injury, few hospitals can afford this. There are only four hospitals in Metro Manila with burn care units: José Reyes Memorial Hospital, East Avenue Medical Center, Quirino Medical Center and PGH. Outside of Manila, the Southern Philippines Medical Center in Davao City has a burn unit.
“Rehabilitation entails a long painful process, such that complications of healing wounds ensue, resulting in physical deformities, impaired function and psychosocial issues. And it is very costly,” said Agsaoay.
Although some hospitals do not have burn care units, doctors and nurses can learn how to treat burn victims. Dr. Jeane Azarcon, former head of the burn care team in PGH, and Agsaoay are willing to teach them. Text Azarcon at 0917-3768507, and Agsaoay at 0917-9486896.
Through the collaboration of Physicians for Peace Philippines, Philippine Society of Burn Injuries, Disability First Foundation and Department of Rehabilitation Medicine and PGH, the First Burn Care and Rehabilitation Conference last March created public awareness about burn victims.
Four burn specialists from Sentara General Hospital in Norfolk, Virginia, flew over to give lectures.
First school of prosthetics
The Philippine School of Prosthetics and Orthotics, the first of its kind in the country, will have its blessing and inauguration on April 17, 8:30 a.m., at UERM Medical Center on Aurora Bldv., QC. It will be a historical event as the school will in the Bachelor of Science in Prosthetics and Orthotics course to respond to the need for professionals in prosthetics and mobility devices for Filipinos with disabilities.
Physicians for Peace Phil. coordinated with Cambodia Trust Foundation, a benefactor. Other benefactors are Nippon Foundation and UERM Medical Center.
It truly amazes me how Dr. Penny Robredo Bundoc and her colleagues at PGH and Physicians for Peace International pushed through with this project. PHP International sent its technicians to teach Filipinos how to make prosthetics and put them on men and women without legs.
Ina Poon Bato in Surigao
Rosellyn Magsaysay has for the longest time been promoting the devotion to “Ina Poon Bato,” patroness of Zambales, since she married former Governor Vicente Magsaysay. The people in Zambales call the Virgin Mary “Apo Apang.” This I learned from taxi driver Renato Dimaano from Botolan, Zambales.
This time the people of Cantilan in Surigao del Sur will feel the presence and protection of “Apo Apang” when the Ina Poon Bato Shrine there is blessed on April 17-18. This is the highlight of the Golden Jubilee celebration and Third Diocesan Congress on the devotion to Ina Poon Bato.
The working committee of the twin events is headed by Ina Poon Bato chapter president Lelis Pimentel, wife of Gov. Johnny Pimentel. Coordinators are Virgie Cosmiano and Chita Orpina.
Invited speakers to the congress, with the theme “Legion of Mary: Church in Action for a Peaceful Earth,” are Msgr. Isidro Irizari, Fr. Joecilo Amalia, Fr. Joseph Zafra, Roselyn Magsaysay and Ambassador Howard Dee, Bro. Stanley Villavicencio, Dr. Mercedes Atupan and Rep. Mitos Magsaysay, who will discuss the Church’s opposition to the RH Bill.
St. Expeditus fiesta
The Society of St. Expeditus will lead the celebration of the feast of St. Expeditus, advocate of urgent cases. Triduum of Masses are on April 16-18, 6 p.m., at Cathedral of St. Andrew in La Huerta, Parañaque.
A healing Mass at 12 noon on April 19 will be celebrated by healer Fr. Diwane Cacao.
At the National Shrine of the Divine Mercy in Marilao, Bulacan, there will be a Triduum of Masses on April 16, 7:30 a.m.; April 17, 6:30 a.m.; and April 18, 6:30 a.m. Fiesta Mass on April 19 is at 6:30 a.m.
Mass of Remembrance
The Prayer Warriors of the Holy Souls has set the second Monday of the month for PWHS members to hold the “Mass of Remembrance.” Here they remember and pray for those who died in calamities, disasters here and in the rest of the world that month.
Today is the Feast of the Divine Mercy. Jesus, King of Mercy, I trust in you!
