Written by: Laura Gwathmey, PFP staff
From the field: Manila, the Philippines (Multi-Specialty Mission)

We started Day 2 by learning that our meeting with Dr. Chris Buniel, the director of our Seeing Clearly program in the Philippines, was canceled because of his flight cancellation due to a typhoon.  We hope he's able to make it to the mission site out in Bicol!

That's one of the great challenges here. The Philippines is the world's largest archipelago, made up of 7,000-some small islands, so most travel is done by plane. Even places that are geographically close to each other may be disconnected if no exchange is present.

We rearranged a bit and started out with a gorgeous lunch with Lyne Abanilla, executive director of PFP-Philippines, and Loy, a PFP Philippines volunteer and chairman of its Ways and Means committee. Loy proved to be an unexpected blessing, as he served as our host yesterday. After lunch, we stopped in a beautiful store owned by PFP-Philippines Chairman Rob Lane, then proceeded to Philippines General Hospital, where our Walking Free program is based.

My heart swelled with pride at the PFP plaque outside the prosthetics & orthotics lab, and the PFP shirts worn by all the technicians. We met with Marlena, a doctor who specializes in pediatric P&O.  She was actually in town for a short time, as she's currently doing a fellowship at Northwestern in pediatric P&O. Marlena introduced us to the techs, who were fabricating legs using the equipment we'd sent over the years. She noted that they're incredibly well-trained for only having a high school education.

The P&O lab is part of the larger Rehabilitative Medicine building at PGH.  We also visited the therapy rooms (physical, occupational, speech), as well as the musculoskeletal ultrasound room in the rehab building.

Marlena told us about the many challenges, but also benefits of practicing in a facility like PGH, that serves 70 percent indigent patients. She noted that doctors are able to take a complete patient history and spend at least an hour with each patient, as they're unable to rely on patient records and not subject to insurance pressures. Not unlike other places where PFP works, patients do not pay to see a doctor, but they may have to pay for the supplies associated with their procedure. Fortunately here, there seems to be a system of support, with wealthy individuals sponsoring the poor for health care.

After the hospital, we went to the Philippines Department of Health, where we met up with our fifth team member, Dr. Montero, a longtime PFP volunteer. Together, along with several PFP Philippines Trustees, we met with Undersecretary Ted Herbosa (former PFP Phil Chairman) and Secretary of Health Enrique Ona.

We discussed the Philippines health issues with the MDGs (they, like so many others, are not on track to meet MDGs 4 and 5), as well as the systemic issues of access to health care in rural and poor areas. He noted that more than 8 million families in the Philippines live on less than 3,600 pesos a month - about $65. Fortunately, there is a culture of giving back here, as wealthy Filipinos often sponsor medical missions and individuals. 
 
After our meeting, we were treated to massages - apparently that's a big thing here, and I'm sure it was a PFP-mission first!  I've never been so relaxed. We also attended Loy's Rotary Club meeting, as many PFP Philippines volunteers here are active Rotarians. Many of them plan to participate in the mission out in Bicol, for which we leave in about an hour. 
We hope to send more updates soon!