MARAWI CITY, Lanao del Sur (PIA)--Patients here and in nearby localities awaiting corneal transplants are now given hope after the Amai Pakpak Medical Center (APMC) and the Eye Bank Foundation of the Philippines, signed a memorandum of agreement (MoA) for the establishment of an Eye Tissue Retrieval Satellite Center in APMC.

The MoA was signed by APMC Chief Dr. Shalimar Sani-Rakiin and Eye Bank Foundation Founding President and Ambassador Dr. Ma. Dominga “Minguita” B. Padilla at the APMC Amphitheater on August 17.

Rakiin said APMC recognizes the urgent need to establish an eye retrieval center in response to the increasing number of patients requiring corneal transplants. Accordingly, APMC has 40 patients enlisted at the Eye Center needing a corneal transplant.

The APMC Eye Tissue Retrieval Center is the first in Mindanao and the first to be inaugurated amid the coronavirus disease (COVID)-19 pandemic.

The medical center chief said the Eye Tissue Retrieval Center will complement its Eye Center which is committed to contribute to the effort of eradicating eye blindness in the Philippines by helping the Eye Bank in its goal of promoting corneal and eye donation for transplantation. 

She said the Eye Center was identified in 2019 as one of the specialty centers of APMC as part of its deliverables and commitment to the Department of Health.

"One of the milestones and remarkable achievements of our Eye Center happened early this year when we successfully conducted our very first corneal transplant," shared Rakiin.

On April 12, 2022, APMC conducted its first corneal transplant to an 11-year-old boy who received a cornea from a donor through the Eye Bank Foundation of the Philippines.

Meanwhile, Padilla said they partnered with APMC because of its willingness and readiness to establish an Eye Tissue Retrieval Center. "It's not enough that you want to put up an eye retrieval center, kailangan may personnel ka. Sila [APMC] mayroong magandang Department of Ophthalmology, meron silang corneal specialist tapos yung kanilang hospital chief is very supportive. It's not just wanting to, not only eager to, but capability rin ng hospital," she stated.

[It's not enough that you want to put up an eye retrieval center, you have to have the personnel. They [APMC] have a good Department of Ophthalmology, they have a corneal specialist and their hospital chief is very supportive. It's not just wanting to, not only eager to but also the hospital's capability.]

The APMC is now the 6th Eye Bank Satellite Retrieval Center in the country together with Baguio General Hospital & Medical Center, Eastern Visayas Regional Medical Center, Cagayan Valley Medical Center, Ilocos Training & Regional Medical Center, and Dr. Paulino J. Garcia Memorial Research & Medical Center. (APB/PIA-10/Lanao del Sur)