The Hydrocephalus Foundation of the Philippines, Inc.

Introduction

The foundation was formed by a group with a common and special interest in helping children afflicted with hydrocephalus. This came about when Dr. Manuel A. Cacdac , a Fil-American Neurosurgeon, in the course of heading the surgical missions of the Society of the Philippine Surgeon in America to the Philippines found and abundance of children who are in need of shunting procedures because of hydrocephalus. He also found a delay in the diagnosis and subsequent surgery required to correct the hydrocephalus. It is well known that hydrocephalus should be treated as soon as diagnosed and a shunting procedures be done as soon as the baby is able to tolerate general anesthesia. This ensures that the baby will still have a viable cerebral cortex, thus giving these children an opportunity to grow up as normal human beings. Since 2007, Dr. Cacdac, in conjunction with Kapwa ko Mahal Ko Foundation and SM Foundation, has been coming back and forth to the Philipines bringing donated shunts from companies like Codman, Medtronics, and Integra Life Science, and together with a few local Neurosurgeons, he has been performing shunting procedures on indigent hydrocephalic children. Surgeries has been done in different venues where the hospital charges are adjusted to minimize expenses. Some surgeries have been done as part of the surgical mission program of the SPSA such as in communities like Baguio City, Dagupan City and Puerto Princesa and Metro Manila have benefitted since the program started. To date, more than 250 shunts have been performed. Although the Foundation couldnt find any specific data and statistics on the incidence of hydrocephalus in the Philippines, there is definite evidence that the waiting time for babies to be shunted remains to be approximately 1 2 years. This includes the facilities like the Philippine General Hospital, Philippine Childrens Medical Center, The National Childrens Hospital, and the other governmental facilities. The reason for this is mainly poverty inability of the families to provide resources for the early diagnosis and treatment of this condition. The fee for laboratory, X-ray, CT-scan and MRI are not readily available unless a foundation decides to shoulder all these expenses. In turn, looking for a venue to do the surgery and subsequent hospitalization requires time as this is the most expensive part of the process. Finally a goodhearted Neurosurgeon is needed to perform the surgery for free. As mentioned previously, Dr. Cacdac still has the resources in the United States for the shunts donations. A typical Ventriculoperitoneal shunt cost approximately $1000. This post operative care and follow-up of these patients are delegated to local agencies and health facilities.
Aims and Visions of the Foundation

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The Hydrocephalus Foundation of the Philippines, Inc.

1. To raise awareness of this condition both in the General Public and medical communities. 2. To obtain donations and funding from agencies, foundations, corporations and individuals, so that assistance both financially and medically can be provided for these indigent children. 3. To network with other healthcare providers specially neurosurgeons, neurologists, immunologists, pediatricians to facilitate the early diagnosis, care and treatment of these patients. 4. When funding is available, statistics and database of all children with hydrocephalus shall be compiled to the foundation will be able to keep track of its objectives and improve its functions. 5. The foundations vision for perpetuity and sustainability can only be accomplished with assistance from both non-governmental agencies who has jurisdictions on these unfortunate children.
Beneficiaries

The beneficiaries of the foundation will be: all underprivileged children who are afflicted with hydrocephalus both congenital and acquired whose families are unable to afford financing for the work up, diagnosis and treatment of these children. Some of these children with congenital hydrocephalus have other congenital abnormalities i.e. encephaloceles, meningoceles, and myelomeningoceles. These will also be addressed by the Foundation depending on the availability of funds. The foundation has already identified local Plastic surgeons who are willing to treat these patients without any professional fees.
Geographical Coverage of Operations

As to the geographic coverage of operations, the Foundation will start in Metro Manila as Dr. Cacdac has been treating these children for the last 4 years. The Foundation will continue to work with the Department of Social Welfare, Kapwa ko Mahal Ko foundation, and other NGUs to identify these patients majority of which come from the provinces seeking care and treatment here in Metro Manila. It is the aim of the Foundation to explore the possibility of regionalizing the care of these
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The Hydrocephalus Foundation of the Philippines, Inc.

children but this will take time, effort, and funds. It is a worthwhile endeavor though and will be conscientiously considered in the future.
General Policies and Services

The Foundation will be using Unit # 304 West City Plaza, 66 West Avenue, Quezon City, Philippines as its office until funding is available for the permanent address and a secretariat with a full time Executive Director. The administration will be handled by the Board of Trustees. The Foundation will coordinate with the other foundations, organizations, and agencies to identify indigent patients with hydrocephalus. Patients are then examined and appropriate laboratory work-up ordered including CT-scan and MRIs if needed. Patients are then scheduled for the shunting procedure after being cleared for the surgery. Different hospital venues both private and governmental are being used at the present time.
Organization/Administration/Personnel

As Chairman, Dr. Cacdacs responsibilities would be to provide directions and guidance, including the procurement of donated shunts and assist in the fund raising activities of the Foundation. He is the main Neurosurgeon responsible in performing or delegating the surgeries on these patients. He will coordinate the diagnostic work-up and the venues for the surgery. The day to day administrative responsibilities would be handled by the Board of Trustees. Fiscal responsibility will be handled by Mr. Ed Puno, a retired marketing Director of Kraft Food, Mr. Juan David Jr. CEO of JVD Trucking Company and Mr. Virgilio Raymundo, CEO of Rayman Builders Inc., communications, corporate dissemination, media management, and public relations will be handled by Mr. Bernardo Mitra, a local businessman and son of the late Speaker Ramon Mitra. Ms. Riza Quejano would serve as the Interim Executive Director. All of the above serve on a voluntary basis, there are no paid staff members at the present time. All members of the board will be involved in ongoing and continuing fund raising.

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The Hydrocephalus Foundation of the Philippines, Inc.

Range of Charges to Patients:

1) Laboratory Php 250.00 2) CT Scan (No contrast) 2,200.00 3) Hospitalization/O.R. Charges (Minimum of 3 days without complications) Philippine Heart Center 38,000.00 Phil Childrens Medical Center 18,000.00 World Citi Medical Center 30,000.00 4) 5) 6) 7) Anesthesiologist Pediatrician Neurosurgeon Shunt

to to to to to

1,500.00 6,000.00 68,000.00 30,000.00 40,000.00

Free Free Free Free ($1,000.00 at cost)

*Note: all rates are in Philippine Pesos except for the Shunt

Dr. Manuel A. Cacdac Chairman Hydrocephalus Foundation of the Philippines, Inc +639183277410

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