Eight Negrense Children Receive Life-Saving Heart Surgeries Through Government Initiative
Bacolod City, Philippines — Eight children from Negros Occidental, suffering from serious heart conditions, underwent life-saving surgeries this past weekend as part of ‘Project Paglaum (Hope).’ This initiative is a collaboration between the Philippine Heart Center (PHC) and the Corazon Locsin Montelibano Memorial Regional Hospital (CLMMRH), aimed at providing essential cardiovascular care to indigent patients.
According to Philippines News Agency, the recent surgical mission, held on June 24-25, reflects CLMMRH’s dedication to its role as a cardiovascular hub, a mandate issued by the Department of Health under Department Order 2021-0001. Drilon emphasized that the initiative helps make cardiovascular treatments more accessible and affordable for residents of Negros.
The initiative is part of a broader plan to develop the CLMMRH into a full-fledged regional heart center. Dr. Juliet Balderas, PHC’s deputy executive director for medical services, outlined the hospital’s progression under the Regional Heart Center Development Program, aiming to enhance local capacities for complex cardiovascular procedures.
During this mission, children from various cities including Bacolod, Bago, Silay, and Kabankalan, received treatments for complex conditions such as ventricular septal defect, atrial septal defect, and tetralogy of Fallot, marking a first for such comprehensive cardiac care in the region. These surgeries are part of a concerted effort to decentralize specialized healthcare services from the national level to regional facilities, aligning with the provisions of the Regional Specialty Center Act (Republic Act 11959).
The Project Paglaum started in early 2021 with two pacemaker surgeries and has since expanded to include more complex procedures. The first surgical mission in mid-2021 involved both open-heart and closed-heart surgeries, benefitting a total of 13 patients, all of whom were reported to have improved post-surgery.