167 residents from Sulu undergo free surgery thanks to GMA Kapuso Foundation

A total of 167 residents from Sulu were able to get free surgeries with the help of the GMA Kapuso Foundation.

According to a report on "24 Oras," Monday, the availability of medical services is a problem in the province due to its remote location in the southern part of the country.

With only a small number of doctors and limited medical equipment, many patients are not able to get the treatment that they need.

"Kailangan 'yung sa minor, 'yung mga bukol, cyst, and the lumps. 'Yung sa major naman, usually 'yung sa thyroid, 'yung anterior neck mass," said Dr. Fahra Omar, Provincial Health Officer II of Sulu. "Wala kaming surgeons that can do thyroid cases."

Under the Gift a Gift Surgical Outreach Program, the Kapuso Foundation partnered with the World Surgical Foundation Philippines and the Philippine Army to provide medical aid to the patients in Sulu.

Specialists, surgeons, nurses, volunteers and medical equipment were flown through a military C130 plane, as they are no commercial flights to the province.

Among the beneficiaries of the program include Hernalyn and Munib Kasim, who had long been suffering from goiter and hernia, respectively.

For those who are interested to help, the GMA Kapuso Foundation is accepting donations through bank deposits, Cebuana Lhuillier, GCash, Shopee, PayMaya, Zalora, MegaMart, Globe Rewards, Metrobank credit card, and Lazada.

For more information, visit the GMA Kapuso Foundation website.

—MGP, GMA Integrated News