11 December 2010, Tel Aviv, Israel – the Philippine Embassy, Philippine Overseas Labor Office and the Overseas Workers’ Welfare Office in Tel Aviv, in cooperation with volunteer doctors of Haddassah Hospital in Jerusalem, conducted a medical mission for the benefit of children of Overseas Filipino Workers. Vice Consul Ferdinand Flores, Labor Attaché Merriam Cuasay, Welfare Officer Petrona Bergado and Cultural Attaché Fatima Tabio prepared the ground work of the medical mission.

Despite the sudden changes in the weather, Dr. Virginia Sison-Kharasch, team leader, Dr. Sigmund Kharasch, Dr. Ibrahim Omari (Israeli), and Dr. Alex Gileles-Hillel (Israeli) from the Haddassah Hospital proceeded with the mission, and even gave up their weekends, to facilitate the mission which was held at the Chancery of the Embassy.  These doctors are all pediatricians.

The medical team also brought the Haddassah Hospital’s official clown in order to entertain the childrean while they were queuing and also to help them overcome the “usual fear” of needles and other medical instruments.

The medical team also brought the Haddassah Hospital’s official clown in order to entertain the children while they were queuing and also to help them overcome the “usual fear” of needles and other medical instruments.

More than 40 families braved the strong rain and gusty wind to receive free medical check-up and flu vaccinations.

The Federation of Filipino Communities in Israel coordinated and worked hand-in-hand with the Embassy on this endeavor.  Spouses of Philippine Embassy Officials were also commissioned to assist the two bus load of Filipino families who flocked to the Embassy at the start of the medical mission.  Owing to their nursing background, Mesdammes Maricel Albania and Jinky Casupanan assisted the medical team, spouses of Messieurs Rex Albania and Allan Casupanan, respectively.

Ambassador Petronila P. Garcia said that the medical mission was an opportunity for OFW children to avail of expensive medical services and consultations for free.  This mission serves as a simple “gift” of the Embassy to children of Philippine workers for the Christmas season.

The Ambassador underscored that the Embassy is aware of the needs of our OFWs in Israel and that the Embassy is working hard in order to provide them with the much needed services, one of which is free medical consultation.

Ambassador Garcia also said that the Embassy, in coordination with the Philippine Overseas Labor Office and the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration, would do its best to organize another similar mission to reach out to our kababayans in other parts of Israel.

Ambassador Garcia also expressed the Embassy’s appreciation, through Dr. Kharasch, to the Haddassah Hospital, most especially to Dr. Eitan Kerem, Director of the Pediatrics of the said hospital for providing 100 doses flu vaccines for free.

Dr. Virginia Sison-Kharasch said the team provided physical examination to all the patients who came in and, at the same time, gave referral to children who need further evaluation and examination.  She said that there were two cases needing further evaluation of specialists.

She also said that she and her team would be willing to cooperate with the Embassy and the Filipino Community in future medical missions.

Dr. Virginia Sison-Kharasch, head of the medical mission, is the Director for Chronic Pulmonary and Ventilator Program, Division of Respiratory Diseases of the Children’s Hospital in Boston, and an Assistant Clinical Professor of Pediatrics at the Harvard Medical School.