Stakeholders gather in 13th Founding Anniversary celeb of IFSU Eye Center


Officials of the Ifugao Provincial and Municipal Local Government Units, the Department of Health, and Ifugao State University (IFSU) convened yesterday, January 26, to celebrate the 13 Founding Anniversary of the IFSU Eye Center in Banac, Potia, Alfonso Lista, Ifugao.

Representative Solomon R. Chungalao, the number one benefactor, represented by Edmund Kindipan, a lawyer, lauded the accomplishments of the Center in its mission to prevent unnecessary blindness in Ifugao and neighboring provinces.

University Professor Dr. Serafin L. Ngohayon, the Center’s Administrator, shared the history of the Eye Center while recognizing the individuals and organizations who rallied for its establishment, improvement, and expansion through the years.

In 2010, the IFSU Eye Center was established with the support of the Ophthalmological Foundation of the Philippines’ (OFPHIL) Boston-based sister organization, Restoring Sight International in response to the very high incidences of blindness in the Ifugao province.

Since its inception, the Center has served 33,933 patients and has conducted 3,176 successful eye operations as of writing. Every year, the center registers at least 2,600 patients. Patients come from Cordillera and the provinces of Cagayan, Isabela, Quirino, and Nueva Vizcaya in Region 2 (Cagayan Valley), and Nueva Ecija in Region 3 (Central Luzon).

In her message, Dr. Eva Marie Codamon-Dugyon expressed her full support for the Eye Center in its continuing fight against blindness to make every Filipino in the North enjoy the right to sight.

“We celebrate victories borne from our shared goals and collective efforts while we set new goals for the coming years,” she added.