VP Binay joins PAGCOR in Christmas gift-giving activity for the less privileged patients of the National Children’s Hospital
Tuesday | December 4, 2012 | 11:30 AM
VICE President Jejomar Binay joined the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) in spreading Christmas cheer to 100 sick children from poor families who are currently confined at the Hematology Ward of the National Children’s Hospital (NCH) during a gift-giving party held at the said health facility on December 4, 2012.
Vice President Jejomar Binay (3rd from left) and Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) Chairman Cristino Naguiat, Jr. led the state-owned gaming firm’s gift-giving activity at the National Children's Hospital (NCH) on December 4, 2012. PAGCOR renovated the hospital's Hematology Ward and donated much-needed equipment to NCH such as one mechanical ventilator, three infusion pumps and three syringe pumps which will be used by the patients in their treatment procedures. Also in photo are (from left) the Vice President’s eldest daughter Nancy Binay and NCH's Medical Center Chief Dr. Epifania Simbul.
The NCH is PAGCOR’s chosen beneficiary on the fifth day of its “Bayanihan: Pamaskong Handog ng PAGCOR 2012”. The Corporation fulfilled the hospital’s wish of renovating and sprucing up its hematology ward area where children with life-threatening conditions like cancer are undergoing treatment.
PAGCOR allocated P2.29 million for the conduct of the gift-giving event at the NCH. Of this amount, P1.78 million will be spent for the purchase of much-needed hospital equipment such as one mechanical ventilator, three infusion pumps and three syringe pumps which will be used by the patients in their treatment procedures.
Ritchel Perdigones, 32, from Surigao del Sur is one of the mothers whose child has been confined at the NCH hematology ward. In early November this year, her three-year old son Erich was rushed to a local hospital in Surigao del Sur because his platelet count dropped. After Erich was referred and confined at the NCH, Ritchel found out that his son has leukemia with severe sepsis.
Vice President Jejomar Binay (2nd from right) and PAGCOR Chairman Cristino Naguiat, Jr. (right) gave a Christmas gift pack to a patient confined at the Hematology Ward of the National Children’s Hospital (NCH) during the state-owned gaming firm’s gift-giving activity in said hospital on December 4, 2012. PAGCOR has allotted P2.29 million for the gift-giving event at the NCH. Of this amount, P1.78 million will be utilized to purchase much-needed hospital equipment such as one mechanical ventilator, three infusion pumps and three syringe pumps for the use of NCH’s patients in their treatment procedures.
As a young widow with no stable means of livelihood, Ritchel is clueless how she will finance her son’s treatment. He undergoes blood transfusion everyday and when his body is ready, he will be subjected to several cycles of chemotherapy. “Ang pinakahiling ko talaga ay mabuhay siya. Sa ngayon kasi yung maliit na tindahan lang namin sa Surigao ang inaasahan ko. Sana matulungan ng PAGCOR ang aking anak para tuluyan na siyang gumaling at makauwi na kami ng Surigao,” she tearfully narrated.
According to Dr. Epifania Simbul, Medical Center Chief of the National Children’s Hospital, hematology ward patients have to be confined for a longer period of time because treatment for serious conditions like leukemia takes time to cure. “The survival rate for each cancer case differs. We provide everything we can despite our limited funds. We call on different donors to augment the funds given by the government,” she said.
Simbul explained that there is hope for children with cancer if they will be given proper medication and a good environment. “We are hoping for cure for these patients. PAGCOR’s renovation project in our hospital is dedicated to our hematology section so it will be more conducive for the patients’ faster recovery. We will try our best to save more lives,” she noted.