Friday, November 24, 2017
By Teresa D. Ellera

A TOTAL of 120 patients from the Third District of Negros Occidental will undergo surgical operations under The Nikki Cares Surgical Mission organized by Dominique “Nikki” Lopez Benitez, wife of Representative Alfredo Benitez.

The three-day mission started Thursday, November 23, at the Teresita Lopez Jalandoni Provincial Hospital in Silay City, with the assistance of 81 doctors and nurses as well as health-related personnel of the Makati Medical Center.

The 120 patients who will undergo major surgeries were among the 500 residents who underwent pre-screening on Oct. 13.

Similar surgical missions were also previously initiated in provinces of Isabela and Aklan.

“We have been doing it for seven years already, but the mission has been going on for more than 20 years,” Nikki Benitez said.

Surgeons and nurses from the Makati Medical Center are performing major and minor surgeries, including for thyroid, hernias, cleft lip and palate, gallbladder stones, as well as obstetric and gynecological cases such as ovarian cysts, small breast masses, among others.

A minor operation costs about P10,000 while a major operation requires P50,000 to P100,000, if performed by a private doctor.

Congressman Benitez said beneficiaries from his district avail of major and minor surgeries free of charge.

“It is something, the way I see it, that should be pursued not just today, maybe we can do it regularly, or quarterly,” he added.