Hundreds of outpatients and surgical patients have availed of free services from a medical mission team from North Carolina, U.S.A. yesterday at the Lamberto Macias Sports Complex, Capitol Area, Dumaguete City.

Dr. Arturo de Leon heads the 55-member mission which conducted goiter, cataract, harelip, gall bladder, hernia and dental defects operations, among others.

The medical mission team was invited by the alumni of Saint Paul University Dumaguete. De Leon said he has observed that a number of Filipinos have thyroid gland problems and he advised them to use iodized salt.

The mission started 14 years ago and has been to places from Ilocos to Basilan, de Leon said. To date, more than 80,000 have availed of free medicines, vitamins, surgical and dental operations, he added.

Inspite of their desire to help, the mission is sometimes accused of merely having a good time in the country and for coming for tax deduction purposes, he said.

This is not true, de Leon pointed out, citing the benefits the people who have availed of their missions have gained.

"I could see through the years that our people really need help," he stressed.*JG

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