MISSION. A child is one of the 52 targeted beneficiaries of the free medical-surgical mission offered by the Antique provincial government in partnership with Medical Mission Matters from Aug. 25-31, 2022. Edison Sta. Romana, Antique Provincial Disability Affairs Office assistant head, said on Thursday the medical mission is being conducted at the Culasi District Hospital in the Municipality of Culasi.(Photo courtesy of PDAO Antique) SAN JOSE DE BUENAVISTA, Antique - Fifty-two residents of Antique with cleft lip and palate defects are to benefit from the free surgery made available by the provincial government here in partnership with a non-stock, non-profit organization Medical Mission Matters. The medical-surgical mission, which started Thursday and will end on Aug. 31, is hosted by the Culasi District Hospital in the municipality of Culasi and particularly targets children, said Provincial Disability Affairs Office (PDAO) assistant head Edison Sta. Romana. He added that before admission and surgery, they are requested to undergo a free swab test right in the hospital. "Of the 52 individuals, there are already 17 of them who had a negative swab test," Sta. Romana said. Those who tested negative "will the first ones to undergo" cleft palate or lip repair. "We are still waiting for the results of the 35 other individuals," he said. This will be the second time this year that Medical Mission Matters will hold free surgeries in the province performed by two doctors and 10 nurses. The first mission was conducted also in Culasi from April 21 to 28 and benefitted 60 patients. The organization is the official partner of the Smile Train, the world's leading cleft charity. Meanwhile, the Home Development Mutual Fund (Pag-IBIG Fund) will bring its Pag-IBIG on Wheels to Antique on Aug. 26, 30, and 31 in the municipalities of Libertad, Culasi, and Barbaza, respectively. The mobile Pag-IBIG will entertain applications for loyalty card, multi-purpose loan, modified Pag-IBIG 2 savings, registration, and inquiries regarding the programs and services of the government agency, according to Pag-IBIG Antique Branch Manager Donald Alton Cahilo. (PNA) }