Health briefs
Advertiser Staff
Mission to visit Philippines
The Hawai'i-based Aloha Medical Mission will send one of its largest medical missions to Pangasinan Province in the Philippines today through Nov. 26 to treat patients with little or no access to healthcare.
The mission's president, Dr. Ramon Sy, said the team of 58 volunteers will include 34 physicians, 11 nurses and 13 lay volunteers. They expect to treat hundreds of patients who require surgery to help with cataracts, birth defects such as cleft lips, and palates and tumors.
And they expect to treat thousands of patients who need other medical care.
Volunteers pay their own travel and lodging expenses.
The team includes ophthalmologists, plastic surgeons, and general surgeons. The mission is a nonprofit charitable organization that provides free medical and surgical care to countries in Southeast Asia with little access to such resources.
Eye clinic for kids set at UH
As many as 500 children are expected to have their eyes checked, take part in baseball drills and meet Major League Baseball players this weekend at the University of Hawai'i Rainbow Wahine Softball Stadium.
The two-day event will begin at 9 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday as part of a Vision Service Plan public education campaign called Get Focused. The organization works with more than 50 private-practice eye doctors from The Hawaii Optometric Association, who donate their time and services to screen children for undetected vision problems.
Children who registered early for the event will participate in a series of activities to include: vision screenings, hitting drills with vision distortion goggles to learn how poor vision can hinder sports performance, a hitting demonstration by Mark Kotsay of the San Diego Padres and a tour of the Dusty Baker Hawaii Winter Baseball Clinic at nearby Les Murakami Stadium.
"We know there is a real need in Hawai'i to make parents more aware of the importance of regular eye care for their children," said Dr. Ron Reynolds of the Hawaii Optometric Association. "It is very easy for a child to fall behind and lose self-confidence in academics and sports if they have undetected vision problems."
Anyone interested in registering or needing more information can call the Hawai'i Optometric Association office at 537-5678.
VSP has held eight Get Focused events so far in 2003, providing free vision screenings to more than 500 children, with almost one out of three requiring follow-up care.
For more information, visit www.getfocusedamerica.org.
Cancer survivor to give lecture
Cancer survivor and World War II veteran Tom Mastin will speak today at the University of Hawai'i at Manoa's Campus Center, Rooms 306, 307 and 308.
Mastin has survived three types of cancer over the past three decades and volunteers for the American Cancer Society to increase awareness of the disease.
He is taking part in the "UH Breaking Bread Together to Make a Difference Speakers Series" from 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. The registration fee of $15 includes lunch. Call 956-7927.
Conference focuses on ADA
Businesses can find out more about complying with the federal Americans with Disabilities Act at a free conference tomorrow sponsored by the state Health Department, Sprint Hawai'i and Pacific ADA & IT Center.
Federal law prohibits discrimination and ensures equal opportunity for people with disabilities in employment, government services, public accommodations, commercial facilities and transportation.
The conference, titled "Communication is Key," will include workshops from noon to 4:30 p.m., with exhibits open to the public from noon to 7 p.m. at the Hilton Hawaiian Village's Kalia Executive Conference Center.
The aim is to help businesses understand issues affecting employees and applicants with disabilities. The conference will focus on 12 topics including language, captioning services, Braille documents, phone services and Web site accessibility.
