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Most of us do not know much about Cebu, Philippines. In Cebu, located in the southern region of the country, treatment for congenital heart disease is almost nonexistent.In fact, every 9 minutes a Filipino child below the age of 15 dies of heart disease. Over 19,500 children are born each year with congenital heart disease in the Philippines and 50% require surgical intervention within the first year of life to survive. Unfortunately, less than 10% of the need is currently covered by medical centers in Metro Manila.
Transportation to Manila is arranged by the Rotary Clubs of Cebu and Makati West. The entire project cost $184,800 and donations from clubs and districts are essential for implementation. The average cost per child is $4,107 – a real bargain.
We are proud to be one of the contributing districts. Many thanks to all the District 7090 Rotary clubs that supported our district project in 2022 through club donations and through the purchase of our chocolate hearts. If every club in the district could donate only $100 per year, we would have enough money to fund one child.
We are looking for Board members to join our effort. Perhaps you, or someone in your family, or in your group of friends have had the experience of having a child born with a congenital heart defect. If so, you know what that life-saving surgery means to the child and family. We are so fortunate in the U.S. and Canada to have access to these surgeries, but other countries are not so fortunate. The Board obligation is minimal – to attend 4 meetings per year and help with the annual sale of chocolate hearts. If you are interested, please contact Chair Val Phillips at valerie@hagersvillerocks.com or Vice-Chair Pat Castiglia at ptcas34@gmail.com.
In 2022, our district Gift of Life contributed $10,000 toward a global grant designed to support travel and treatment costs to provide 45 children from the Cebu region with a second chance at life. At present, there are no pediatric cardiac care facilities in the Cebu region located in the southern Philippines. These children, in desperate need for surgery, must travel to Manilla with one parent to obtain the treatment required to live. Children are operated upon in various hospitals in Manila depending on the type of procedure required.
Transportation to Manila is arranged by the Rotary Clubs of Cebu and Makati West. The entire project cost $184,800 and donations from clubs and districts are essential for implementation. The average cost per child is $4,107 – a real bargain.
We are proud to be one of the contributing districts. Many thanks to all the District 7090 Rotary clubs that supported our district project in 2022 through club donations and through the purchase of our chocolate hearts. If every club in the district could donate only $100 per year, we would have enough money to fund one child.
We are looking for Board members to join our effort. Perhaps you, or someone in your family, or in your group of friends have had the experience of having a child born with a congenital heart defect. If so, you know what that life-saving surgery means to the child and family. We are so fortunate in the U.S. and Canada to have access to these surgeries, but other countries are not so fortunate. The Board obligation is minimal – to attend 4 meetings per year and help with the annual sale of chocolate hearts. If you are interested, please contact Chair Val Phillips at valerie@hagersvillerocks.com or Vice-Chair Pat Castiglia at ptcas34@gmail.com.