Site:

Catbalogan Provincial Hospital, Western Samar

Catbalogan City is the capital city of Samar Province, Philippines with a population of 92,454 people (2007 Census). It is Samar's main commercial, trading, educational, political and financial center. It it also an important and major seaport serving inter-island vessels. Catbalogan City's central geographical location in Eastern Visayas makes it ideal as the gateway to the three Samar provinces.

Geography

Location: The capital city of Catbalogan is strtegically located in the western seacoast of the Province of Samar, Eastern Visayas region. It is bounded to the north by the municipalities of Tarangnan and San Jorge, to the east by the municipality of Jiabong, and to the west by the Maqueda Bay with its beautiful sunsets. The Pan-Philippine Highway (Maharlika Highway) traverses the city from Barangay San Vicente in the north through the poblacion to Barangay Lagundi in the south. Catbalogan City is about 802 kilometers south of Manila, the capital of the Philippines.

Land Area: The total land area of Catbalogan City is 274.22 km². Its city proper covers an area of 1.30 km².

There are 57 barangays in the entire city, twenty-one of which are situated in the poblacion. Another twenty-one barangays are located in the costal areas and fifteen are in the interior or upland areas.

Topography: The topography of Catbalogan City is rough and its mountains are relatively high. Approximately 2% of the land area is plain and mostly found along the seacoast while 43% are rolling hills and 55% are mountainous.

The coastline of Catbalogan City is irregular with bays bordering the poblacion and other barangays. Its coastline has a total length of about ten miles.

Climate: The climate is classified as 4th type (Mild) where rainfall is evenly distributed throughout the year.

In Catbalogan City there is hardly a month without rainfall. Generally, tere is no distinct dry season, but the months of February, March, April and May comprise the short dry season. Rainfall is uniform throughout the year and heaviest during the months of November and December.

Volunteers Needed:

1. A team of specialists consisting of internists, general surgeons, plastic surgeons, otolaryngologists, gynecologists, surgical assistants, anesthesiologists, cardiologists, ophthalmologists, and dentists.
2. Surgical scrub nurses for major operations.

Cost:

$2,500.00 per person. If anyone has free flights, you may deduct the cost of the airfare, but a minimum of $500 per person is required to join the mission.

1. Round trip airfare ticket
2. Land transportation upon arrival
3. Board & lodging
4. Side trips after the mission-Optional

When:

March 29 - April 5/8, 2009 (optional - extra 3 days are for those who want to explore the area after the mission)

Volunteers are requested to bring the following:

1. Medicines, particularly antibiotics and analgesics, vitamins and those for common illnesses such as hypertension, diabetes, etc.
2. IV antibiotics and anesthesia sets and drugs
3. Surgical instruments and cautery machines
4. Surgical supplies such as sutures, drains, suction and IV tubings, sterile sponges, wound dressings, syringes, needles, tubings
5. Surgical linens such as drapes, gowns and scrub suits, caps, booties, masks

Credentials:

To be submitted no later than December 15, 2008

1. Bio-Data
2. Current license
3. University Diploma
4. Hospital Affiliations