UNIVERSAL TOUCH OF LIFE MEDICAL FOUNDATION INC

Tacloban has still some great needs in Brgy. Suhi (Northern part of Tacloban where the Health Center is located). This area became a make-shift morgue in the aftermath of the super typhoon, with over 6,000 dead bodies dumped there. Dr. Glo Fabrigas, head of the Health Department of the Office of the Mayor of Tacloban, is offering us to take over the health center. The health center was a birthing center before it was damaged by the storm surge.
2. We toured the Bethany Hospital in Tacloban City to talk to the representative of Doctors Without Borders (MSF). They informed us that they will be leaving by April 2014. Bethany Hospital will remain closed after Doctors Without Borders will leave the country and they do not know if the hospital will continue to be operational.
3. We visited the Samaritan Purse and they were stationed in the grounds of a non-functional hotel where they set up two tents which they used only as a volunteers headquarters and sleeping area. The medical team goes on mobile transport around Tacloban and other areas.
4. We visited the New Life Baptist Church in Tacloban where pastors from different provinces meet 3x a month to discuss the situation of the different churches. Most churches are wiped out or damaged. We have connected with the Pastor of New Life Baptist from a different place that has a great need for medical assistance.
5. We had a meeting with WHO (World Health Organization) health sector and the OCHA head department, represented by Dr. Benjamin Lane and Dr. Aileel Kitching. They informed us that there is a great need of medical assistance especially outside Tacloban because many more places have still not received any form of assistance. Tacloban looks good from the outside and seems to be back to normal but, according to WHO, it is a deceiving picture.
6. WHO recommended that UTOL be registered for a MOU with the Department of Health in Manila in order for us to have easy access in the importation of our medicines and equipment.

Strategic Plan
The UTOL USA/UAE Board of Trustees & UTOL Philippines have decided for a Surgical & medical mission for March 2017 and raise the necessary funding of not less than $50,000 for a 5-10 days mission. surgical procedures provided for Clef lip & Palate repair, cataract surgery, Head & Neck Surgery, Orthopedic surgery and Plastic and reconstructive surgery. This will be a joint partnership with French Surgeons , Humaniterra International and in cooperation with CBN Asia 700 club & Global Hands UK.



Due to COVID our medical missions for the Philippines and all fundraising campaign had been put on hold for the meantime.

The board of trustees of Universal Touch of Life Medical Foundation Philippines was provided an updated report of the situation and the huge logistic support needed for a humanitarian medical mission. Coordination with WHO, office of the mayor of Tacloban and New Life Baptist church association was done to provide a comprehensive report to the UTOL Board and corresponding donors overseas. The present funds on hand was insufficient to undergo a one week medical mission for the disaster sites. We have to provide portable generators, food for local and medical staff, transportation utility vehicles and accommodation facilities, like temporary tents, for the medical mission. The churches cannot provide any logistic support because majority of them are victims of the disasters and most members have lost their families and personal belongings. We want to be a blessing to the churches and not to burden them further. We have to be self-sufficient (according to WHO) and we cannot expect any form of assistance from the local government.

The foundation is preparing for fundraising for after the 2013 Haiyan disaster victims of Tacloban & Samar for surgical & medical mission.
Due to COVID restrictions all of our operations for fundraising was place on hold