Eye Surgeon initiates “Hangin Ko, Buhay Mo” Project

October 23, 2021 Headlines

Baguio City– Philanthropist, eye surgeon, Dr. Ars Lagasca Ngaosi-Mondiguing , a Kankana-ey from Mankayan, Benguet, in the spirit of bayanihan, initiated a life saving project that she hopes to be replicated in the entire nation to ease the burden of the country’s economy.
Living her Junior Chamber International (JCI) creed , “that service to humanity is the best work of life” and inspired from the words of the late US President, John F. Kennedy, “Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country”, Dr. Ngaosi-Mondiguing is spearheading the “Hangin Ko, Buhay Mo‘’ project that targets to source 100 tanks of 50 pound oxygen tanks complete with individual oxygen regulators and 10 nasal cannulas per regulator.
This is a Herculean task considering that the pandemic had been two years now, but with the support of the Lagasca-Ngaosi-Mondiguing families, her batchmates at Saint Louis University College of Medicine, Lepanto High School, Baguio Eye Laser Center Inc. (BELCI), and The Baguio Eye Doctor’s Clinic, are very optimistic and hopeful that the project will be realized.
Dr. Ngaosi-Mondiguing, holds clinic at the Notre Dame De Chartres Hospital, she is a fellow of the Philippine Academy of Ophthalmology, a diplomate of the Philippine Board of Ophthalmology, a Hall of Fame awardee in the field of Research, Vice Chair of the Research Ethics Board of Ilocos Training and Regional Medical Center (ITRMC), a Civil Service Awardee, the Founding and current President of the Baguio Eye Laser Center, Inc. (BELCI), Charter President of JCI Baguio Sunflower, a multi-awarded chapter that became the grand slam winner as the Best New Chapter of the World.
Despite our beloved city Mayor Magalong’s preparedness and good leadership, he could not do it alone, said Ngaosi-Mondiguing. After all, these are not ordinary times. We are in the midst of the pandemic!
This is the time to do the BAYANIHAN. We have to help augment the dwindling oxygen supply in our city.
At present, Baguio General Hospital and Medical Center (BGHMC), the designated COVID Hospital in Baguio City can accommodate 300 COVID patients due to social distancing based on message conversations of Dra. Mondiguing with Dra. Lagdao of BGHMC. According to the latter, BGHMC was at 90-100 capacity last week.
Other hospitals such as Notre Dame De Chartres, Saint Louis University Hospital of the Sacred Heart and Pines City Doctors Hospital have allotted 20-25% of the total bed capacity for COVID Cases, in order to accept other conditions such as obstetrics, pediatrics, gynecology, surgery, trauma and internal medicine for heart, kidney, pulmonary and endocrine diseases. JCI Baguio Sunflower is the lead NGO tapped by Dr. Ngaosi-Mondiguing for the project.
They are now in communication with the Apl.De.Ap Foundation and BIBAK International hoping to get more than 100 tanks. If they source more than the initial target, then they can go the extra mile of sharing the tanks to the entire Cordillera region,” she said.
Furthermore, they have already ordered oxygen cylinders directly from a supplier and are expected to arrive in the country by the end of the month.
All oxygen cylinders will be filled with oxygen in Manila before it will be brought up to Baguio City. There will be a proper turn over to our city government through the City Mayor for proper and equal distribution to the different isolation centers “ she said.
In as much as we want to control this pandemic, we expect an increase in upper respiratory tract infections, rhinitis or colds and so does COVID, during the coming cold months until February next year, hence, the group is running after time.
Interested parties can forward their cash donations to JCI Baguio Sunflower Inc. checking account at the China Bank Savings Bank along Session Road, Baguio City with account number 607000002234.
Please email a photo or copy of your transaction receipt at [email protected] for proper accounting and transparency. All donors will be furnished a copy of the accounting after the said activity.