Operasyon Pinoy: Operasyon Bingot at Ngongo

(Operasyon Pinoy: Operasyon Ngiti)

Department of Surgery

Ospital ng Maynila Medical Center

 

A Primer

 

June, 2002

 

What is Operasyon Pinoy?

 

Operasyon Pinoy is a monthly in-hospital surgical mission for indigent Filipino patients with surgical disorders conducted by Filipino surgeons.

 

It is part of the social responsibility program – Healthy Urban Poor – Health for All Filipino Movement of the Department of Surgery of Ospital ng Maynila Medical Center (OMMC).

 

Operasyon Pinoy was launched in September, 2002 starting with Operasyon Bosyo (goiter) in OMMC under the leadership of Dr. Reynaldo O. Joson, chair of the Department of Surgery, and Dr. Christia S. Padolina, hospital director.  Subsequently, Operasyon Kanser sa Suso (breast cancer), Operasyon Luslos (hernia), Operasyon Bato sa Abdo (gallbladder stones), and other common surgical disorders were launched.

 

 

What is Operasyon Bingot at Ngongo?  What is Operasyon Ngiti?

 

It is a social responsibility program of the OMMC Department of Surgery intended for indigent Filipino patients with bingot (cleft lip) at ngongo (cleft palate).  [Oral cleft is a term that includes both cleft lips and cleft palates.]

 

Operasyon Ngiti is Operation Smile in English.  “Smile” is the popular term for surgical mission on cleft lip and palate all over the world.  Note: Deliberation is still ongoing on which phrase to use in the long run.

 

Operasyon Bingot at Ngongo has 3 objectives: service, training, and research.

 

Service

It is a surgical mission for indigent Filipino patients with oral clefts performed by surgeons affiliated with OMMC Department of Surgery.  Initially, the focus will be on indigent Manilan patients.  In the future, if logistics will allow, the mission will be extended to indigent non-Manilan patients with oral clefts.

 

Training

Simultaneous with the performance of surgical service, Operasyon Bingot at Ngongo will train more Filipino surgeons to perform operations on oral clefts.  Initially, the focus will be on the training of surgeons affiliated with OMMC Department of Surgery.  In the future, the training will be extended to other surgeons outside OMMC, such as those in the other hospitals of the City of Manila, other hospitals in Metro Manila as well as in the provinces.  The long-term goal of training more Filipino surgeons is self-sufficiency and self-reliance, that is, production of enough Filipino surgeons to tackle the present load of oral cleft problem in the country (1-2/1000 live births) without banking on foreign missions and foreign surgeons.

 

Research

Simultaneous with the performance of surgical service and training of more surgeons, Operasyon Bingot at Ngongo will conduct action research projects to try to solve the oral cleft problem in the community.  Initially, the focus of problem-solving will be in Manila.  In the future, if logistics permit, the research will be extended to other communities in the country.

 

 

What prompted the OMMC Department of Surgery to establish Operasyon Bingot at Ngongo as one of its projects under Operasyon Pinoy?

 

First, the prevalence of oral clefts in the City of Manila is suspected to be high based on statistics from the Philippine General Hospital (PGH).  The City of Manila ranked first among Metro Manila cities with 122 patients with oral cleft operated in PGH from 1996-2000.  The prevalence could be higher if statistics from the other hospitals in the City of Manila were included.

 

Second, the Department of Surgery firmly believes that OMMC being the premier government hospital for the City of Manila should take the lead in solving the prevalent oral cleft problem of the Manilans.

 

Third, the Department of Surgery of OMMC with its successful experiences with other projects under Operasyon Pinoy feels it can tackle the oral cleft problem in the City of Manila.

 

 

How is quality of service monitored in the Operasyon Bingot at Ngongo?

 

The quality of service will be monitored using the following standards:

 

  1. The average number of preoperative visits to the hospital will be 2.
  2. The average length of waiting time for scheduling of the operation after decision to operate will be less than 2 weeks.
  3. The average length of hospital stay will be 2 days.
  4. The average medical expense will be PhP 5,000.  Indigent patients will get service for free.
  5. The complication rate will be less than 3%
  6. The mortality rate will be less than 1%.

 

What to do to avail of the surgical services of Operasyon Bingot at Ngongo?

 

  1. Consult at the Department of Surgery Outpatient Clinic in the OMMC Outpatient Department Room 10, Monday through Friday, 8 -10 am.
  2. Tell the information clerk that you want to avail of the services of Operasyon Bingot at Ngongo of the OMMC Department of Surgery.

 

What to expect upon consultation at the OMMC Department of Surgery?

 

  1. A complete diagnosis will be formulated upon consultation.
  2. Pictures will be taken before the operation and after the operation.
  3. Screening will be done by the social worker of the hospital for level of assistance on medical or operative expense.
  4. Planning of operation will be done by specialists.
  5. The standards in monitoring quality of services will be used.

 

Who are the people directly in charge of Operasyon Bingot at Ngongo?

 

Project Director:                                Dr. Reynaldo O. Joson

Assistant Project Directors:             Dr. Enrico Valera

                                                            Dr. Jose Joven Cruz

Project Coordinators:                       Dr. Nolim’t Raquel

Dr. Marlou Padua