Maguindanao's health team to conduct more free circumcision activities

• Source:http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?nid=2&rid=889917
• Sunday, May 29, 2016

(PNA), SCS/NYP/EOF

BULUAN, Maguindanao, May 29 (PNA) -- Maguindanao Gov. Esmael Toto Mangudadatu is mulling another day of free circumcision after an activity turned to be successful despite its being bloody and painful, literally.

Hundreds of children from across Maguidanao's second district availed themselves of free circumcision conducted Saturday by the provincial People's Medical Team (PMT).

Children, aged 6 to 17 years old from Muslim, Christian and Lumad communities in Maguindanao, trooped here to avail of the three-day "Operation Tuli" that culminated at the provincial capitol grounds.

“It’s nice to see Muslim, Christian and Lumad children mingle together and avail of the free circumcision we facilitated,” Mangudadatu told reporters.

"We are considering to conduct a similar activity next week in Maguindanao's first district," he said.

About 250 school children were "baptized" with free circumcision, an annual event happening in the province the past six years. Aside from free "tuli," children were also given antibiotics and pain killers to sustain the pain until the circumcision is fully healed.

The PMT was created by Mangudadatu to serve Maguindanao's indigents where the health providers are scarce due to security concerns. It has circumcised more than 5,000 children the past six years and treated more than 100,000 sick Maguindanaons.

Lynette Estandarte, Maguindanao budget officer and PMT head, said the team also dispersed 100 polymer toilet bowls to the Department of Education in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) through Secretary John Magno.

Magno said the toilet bowls will be turned over to selected public schools across the province ahead of opening of classes next month.