News

Rotaplast International, Inc., in partnership with the Rotary Club of Cebu Port Centre, Abounding in Love Foundation, and International Care Ministries, has again chosen Adventist Hospital-Cebu as the host facility for its 20th Cebu Medical Mission.

The medical mission, with the theme "Saving Smiles, Changing Smiles," took place from March 11 to 21, 2025, and provided medical evaluations to 112 children. Out of these 112 children, 66 underwent successful surgical operations performed by a dedicated team of international and local medical professionals.

In an article published on AH-Cebu’s official social media site, Joven Arcelo, AH-Cebu’s health care experience officer, shared his views on the outreach. "The operations provided these children with newfound confidence, dignity, and opportunities that may have otherwise been limited. It transformed not only their appearances but their futures," he said.

Based in South San Francisco, California, Rotaplast International, Inc. is a non-profit organization dedicated to helping children and families worldwide by alleviating the challenges posed by cleft lips and palates, burn scarring, and deformities.

Collaborating with local professionals such as the Rotary Club of Cebu Port Centre, Abounding in Love Foundation, International Care Ministries, and other organizations like in this 2oth Rotaplast Cebu Medical Mission, Rotaplast sends multidisciplinary medical teams to provide free reconstructive surgeries, ancillary treatments, and training for comprehensive care for these children.

Additionally, Rotaplast facilitates medical missions to offer surgical interventions for children who cannot receive treatment locally or who require more complex medical procedures than local physicians can provide.

For the medical missions in Cebu, these organizations have selected AH-Cebu for nine consecutive years as the host facility, not only for the surgeries but also for the necessary laboratory and diagnostic testing services and nursing care support.

The Rotaplast International medical team, led by Mission Director Tom Fox and Medical Director Angelo Capozzi, arrived on March 10, 2025. On March 11, they visited AH-Cebu to meet with its administrative council to discuss logistics, finalize preparations, and address other matters before their surgeries, scheduled for March 13 to March 20, 2025.

Pre-clinic assessments took place on March 12, 2025, during which 112 children with cleft lips and palates were accommodated for medical evaluation. However, only 66 of them qualified for the surgical operations.

One of the nurses who cared for the patients post-operatively expressed amazement at this year's medical mission.

"Speech therapy, a new addition to Rotaplast's services this year, produced rapid results. 'I'm even personally amazed," she said, "at how quickly the children's speech improved. Such a wonderful ministry!"

Speech pathologists were added to the team to help optimize speech development and address any communication challenges that may arise. They provide targeted speech therapy to address articulation errors and other speech impairments. They also assess communication insufficiencies, recommend further medical or surgical intervention, and provide therapy to maximize function.

Furthermore, in sharing his views, Arcelo stated, "Watching so many children coming here and leaving with more beautiful smiles is really inspiring."

He expressed the hospital's appreciation for its collaboration with local and international Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) since it marks a significant milestone in community service.

"The partnership aligns perfectly with our hospital's mission to touch lives through the healing ministry of Christ," he added, stating that he looks forward to next year's collaboration with Rotaplast International, Inc. and their local partners.