LDS Charities is set to donate state-of-the art equipment to Ospital ng Biñan, the only community hospital in Biñan, Laguna.
On July 10, 2017, LDS Charities signed into an agreement with the City of Biñan and Go Forward Biñan Foundation, Inc. Present in the MOA Signing ceremony were Elder Stroud, LDS Charities representative, Biñan City Mayor Arman Dimaguila, and Foundation head Mrs. Lourdes Dimaguila. President Sherwin Nones, Stake President of the San Gabriel Stake of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, as well as Dr. George Alora, Chief of Hospital of the Ospital ng Biñan, were also present during the signing ceremony.
With this agreement, Ospital ng Biñan will receive a brand new slit lamp for eye examination, an operating microscope for microsurgery, an audiometer for newborn and adult hearing acuity evaluation, two patient monitors for the emergency room, and two stretchers for patient use.
This partnership will benefit 3,500 individuals, including members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the city.
In his speech, Mayor Dimaguila expressed his gratitude to LDS Charities and the Church for making this possible. “These donations will operationalize the hospital for cataract surgeries,” he said. “LDS has done so much for the city without asking something in return…. The people of Biñan will always be grateful. Rest assured that these will be taken care of,” he added.
President Sherwin Nones, San Garbriel Stake President, said, “We’re grateful that we’re here working together.” He explained to the media and the guests that the funds used to purchase the medical equipment are donations given by members of the Church in the Philippines. “Members give small donations because helping is one of the key purposes as members of the Church,” he said.
Chief of Hospital Dr. Alora cited that one of the challenges the community hospital is currently experiencing is the lack of equipment to meet the needs of the patients. “Our hospital can only cater to level 1 emergency. When patients need tertiary care, we send them to private tertiary hospitals or to Batangas.” Dr. Alora is grateful for the donations because the hospital will now be equipped to meet the medical needs of the patients.
The Ospital ng Biñan is the only hospital the poor and indigent can receive medical care, especially seniors and newborn babies. It is located in Biñan City with 330,000 people. This 50-bed hospital attends to approximately 2,000 patients, which includes 50 newborns, monthly. Its outpatient clinic serves 246 patients daily.
Mrs. Lourdes Dimaguila, the foundation’s head, is excited with the new partnership. “It’s a blessing,” she said. Mrs. Dimaguila related the difficulties cataract patients encounter. According to her, they would have to drive patients to San Pedro, Laguna for cataract consultations, cataract surgeries and post-operative follow-up visits, which is costly, time-consuming and tiresome for the patients. “But with these [the donations], there’s no need,” she said. The donations from LDS Charities will help make the hospital self-sustaining.
LDS Charities is the humanitarian arm of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It is focused on relieving suffering for families of all nationalities and religions, and offers hope for a better life for millions of people around the world.