Balangiga Cataract Massacre

We conducted our mission at the Albino M. Duran Memorial Hospital in Balangiga. We appreciate the kindness and hospitality of the medical staff and personel of AMDMH headed by the chief of hospital Dr. Benedicto O Garcia.

This year's team was composed of Dr. Elmer Montes ( Team Captain) of Borongan Eastern Samar, Dr. Lemuel Gatchalian of EVRMC Tacloban, Dr. Gil Mutia of EVRMC Tacloban, Dr Lyndon Loyola of Catbalogan Western Samar, Dr Alfred Lim of Bethany Hospital Tacloban and Dr Amelia Reyes of RTR Hospital Tacloban.

Balangiga Cataract Massacre

Balangiga is located in the province of Eastern Samar. About 90 kms east of Tacloban city.

Balangiga is the site of the Balangiga massacre in 1901, which remains one of the longest-running and most controversial issues of the Philippine-American war.

The EVSO in celebration of this year's sight saving month visited Balangiga to conduct free cataract surgeries for indigent patients on august 5-7, 2009.

Dr Elmer Montes and Dr Alfred Lim conducted cataract screening 1 month prior to the mission to identify patients needing medical clearance. A total of 240 patients were screened and 58 were eligible for surgery.

Sponsor for this year's mission is the Christian Service International in cooperation with the Cataract Foundation of the Philippines thru the Resources for the Blind Inc and the municipality of Balangiga.

Eastern Visayas Society of Ophthalmology (EVSO)

The Eastern Visayas Society of Ophthalmology (EVSO) is a chapter of the Philippine Academy of Ophthalmology. The EVSO is composed of government and private eye mds in region 8.