By Rose B. Palacio

Davao City (12 February) -- American doctors of the Kiwanis Club of Cosmopolitan Detroit, Michigan successfully conducted simultaneous medical missions in Dagupan and Davao City last January, as various hospitals were recipients of 40-footer container vans, ambulances, hospital equipments and medical supplies from the World Medical Relief Inc., in cooperation with the Kiwanis Club of Davao and Henry Ford hospital.

Spearheaded by Van S. Ong, RN and Manager of Henry Ford Hospital, also a distinguished official of Kiwanis Club, the US medical experts, aside from holding medical missions, went to far-flung provinces to donate hospital equipments and medical supplies.

In Mati, Davao Oriental, Governor Cora Malanyaon and Vice Governor Mayo Almario received a container van, medical supplies and hospital equipment; Dr. Jojo Sembrano of the Davao Medical Center received two 40-footer container vans; the Davao Medical School Foundation received medical equipments through Dr. Bong Vega while Mati City Mayor Michelle Rabat received 40-footer container van.

Dagupan and Pangasinan were beneficiaries of two ambulances complete with dialysis machines ventilators and all kinds of medical supplies, said Van Ong.

Eleonor "LenLen" H. Madiclum, assistant secretary of Kiwanis Club of Davao City and immediate past division secretary said that Van S. Ong and the group of American medical experts have been doing this medical mission for the past three years now together with his (Ong's) brothers and sisters.

Last year (2007), the Davao Regional Hospital in Tagum, the Cainglet Hospital in Panabo, and the Libongan hospital were also recipients of hospital equipments and medical supplies.

In an exclusive interview with the Philippine Information Agency (PIA), Van Ong said that "my dream for the people of Davao is to bring a mobile Operating Room so we can bring the services to the people in remote areas." Inside the mobile Van we can do minor operations for the barangay people in remote barrios, he said smilingly although he came from a hard day's medical mission.

Van Ong said "we have our Kiwanian counterparts here in Davao who are actively coordinating with us on our yearly mission: Eladio Aviola and Atty. Raul Tolentino" and upon my retirement by 2010, I will go on my fulltime missionary works.

In answer to a query, Van Ong said, I'd like to share my bounty to the poor people of Davao. It reminded me of how I grew up here in Davao. We were nothing but we were successful because my mother believes in good education and kahit na wala kaming pera, sa Ateneo at Womens kami pinagsisikapang paaralin ng aming mga magulang. Laging nangungutang ang mga magulang namin. I thought for one moment that the payment for tuition (at that time) was a 'promisory note', he said jokingly.

We are ten brothers and sisters, but we survived. And now, seven of my sisters are in Chicago, one in San Francisco, me and my brother in Michigan, he said.