The Carol Foundation, a Manila-based organization, is set to hold a medical mission in Laoag City scheduled either this April or early May.

The main focus of the said medical mission would be on cataract operation.

Dr. Renato Mateo, city health officer, made this announcement after officials of the said foundation confirmed their willingness to hold a medical mission in the city.

As no specific date has been scheduled yet for the said mission, Mateo said they are still negotiating with the foundation’s personnel on the expected date of their visit in the city, which would be dependent on the foundation members’ availability.

Mateo added that negotiations would be concluded soon so city residents would also be prepared for the said mission.

However, The Ilocos Times learned that only 50 to 60 patients may be accommodated by the group in their three-day mission in the city due to the complexity of cataract operations.

It was also learned that the city government would be in charge of the transportation, accommodation and meal expenses of the visitors as its counterpart fund for the free medical mission.

The Carol Foundation has been touring the country to conduct free cataract operations.

In view of this, Mateo asked the members of the tri-media in the information campaign for the medical mission to be conducted by the said foundation.

Cataract operations, according to Mateo, are expensive and only a limited number of hospitals in the region are capable of conducting this type of medical procedure.

To avail of the free operation, Mateo said prospective patients should get in touch with the City Health Office to register as he reiterated that there are only limited slots for the said procedure.

Meanwhile, Laoag City Mayor Michael V. Fariñas has thanked the said group in advance for their “kind heart in helping the less fortunate.”

Fariñas said a plaque of appreciation should be given to the foundation as a way of expressing the city’s gratitude to their help.

Fariñas also expressed hopes that more foundations and groups, both from abroad and from the country, would continue holding free medical missions in the city and the province to help our indigent provincemates.

Dominic B. dela Cruz