THE U.S.-based St. Francis and Clair Foundation of California will conduct a three-day medical, surgical, and dental mission in Dagupan City from January 30 to February 1, aiming to assist approximately 5,000 underprivileged residents.

To take place at the Dagupan People’s Astrodome, this initiative was coordinated by Mayor Belen Fernandez when she led members of the Manlingkor ya Kalangweran (MYK) on a visit to Milpitas City, California, in early December last year.

The mission will feature a dedicated team of Filipino-American doctors, nurses, and physical therapists, supported by staff from the City Health Office. Services will include medical and rehabilitation treatments, physical therapy, minor surgeries, dental care, and eye examinations.

Medical services will address conditions such as arthritis, neck and back pain, treatment for elderly individuals facing mobility challenges, and care for those with disabilities, including amputees, polio survivors, and individuals with cerebral palsy. Additionally, patients with respiratory issues like COPD, emphysema, and heart failure will receive specialized care.

Physical therapy will encompass mobility assessments, rehabilitation, joint care, and education for families on patient care and mobility enhancement.

Organizers have emphasized that physical therapists focus on treatment and mobility improvement, not massage therapy. Minor surgical procedures will include local excisions, incisions, and circumcisions, while eye care services will offer free eye examinations and eyeglasses.

Mayor Fernandez invites anyone interested in benefiting from these services to register through their barangay captains. (Leonardo Micua)