Dr. Edwin Magallona of PPS Volunteers for Operation Smile

July 18, 2012 - PRLog -- Pampanga, Philippines—Dr. Edwin Paul V. Magallona and his staff at the Philippine Plastic Surgeon clinic joins hundreds of medical experts in the country to give voluntary services to Kapampangan children last May 30, 2012.

Dubbed as ‘Operation Smile Project’, the event was co-spearheaded by Kapampangan Development Foundation (KDF) and the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO). In the said event, 100 children received free harelip and cleft palate surgeries.
KDF president Benigno Ricafort said that the beneficiaries came from poor families in Pampanga who cannot afford to have a cleft palate operation and the accompanying cost of medicines. Mr. Ricafort is also thankful to all the doctors, nurses and surgeons who volunteered for the event.

In the Philippines, the incidence of oral cleft is estimated as one in every 500 live births. About 4,000 new cleft palate cases arise every year in the country. Studies show that malnutrition and lack of Vitamin C and folic acid during pregnancy constitute for this abnormality.

Dr. Magallona is thankful that he gets to be a part of this event every year.
“It is my way of giving back to my country and to these innocent children,” said Dr. Magallona in an interview.

He also added that medical volunteer programs are part of their continuing corporate social responsibility.

“Commercial reconstructive surgery usually costs thousands of pesos but with this program, patients will not shell out that amount as it will be shouldered by KDF and other partner organizations,” Dr. Magallona explained.

Dr. Magallona, a board-certified Philippine plastic surgeon, explains that volunteering for Operation smile and Smile Train are the least he can do to give back to his community. He has been volunteering for the two organizations since he started his medical profession ten years ago.

He said that he has been around the Philippines to join this yearly project, places including Bacolod, Cebu, Benguet and Cavite.

“It humbles me as a doctor and as a person to be a part of this mission. I’m a Dad as well so seeing this children suffer from this deformity is disheartening; that’s why I make it a point for my staff to be a part of this activity at least twice a year,” Dr. Magallona said.

Operation Smile conducts oral cleft palate surgery at least four times a year to different provinces in the Philippines.