Buddhist group treats over 5,000 Yolanda survivors
TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte – Some 5,300 survivors of super typhoon Yolanda in this city and from other parts of Eastern Visayas were recently given free medical services by members of Buddhist Tzu Chi Foundation at the Leyte Progressive High School in Brgy. Anibong here.
Tzu Chi Foundation Philippine President Alfredo Li said the activity was part of their 204th medical mission in Tacloban City which was aimed to serve “the poorest of the poor in the region.”
Li said the Buddhist group’s medical mission offered free services including general medicine dental, ophthalmology, acupuncture, pediatrics, ENT (ears, nose, and throat), and minor surgery.
He said the mission is supported by Tzu Chi Singapore, particularly the 122member delegation from Singapore’s Tzu Chi International Medical Association (TIMA). TIMA, a group that gathers together volunteer medical practitioners, is the foundation’s arm in carrying out its Mission on Medicine all over the world.
This project, said TIMA-Singapore’s coordinator, Dr. Fong Poh Him, supports efforts of the foundation’s Philippine branch in implementing programs on charity and medicine.
“The Philippines experiences major disasters. Recently, it was hit again by a strong typhoon (Lando, or international named - Koppu). Just after one strikes, another typhoon comes, and that is why the country needs consistent help,” he said.
A surgery room set up by the Foundation last week catered to as many as 254 cases, mostly attended to by Dr. Fong , a reconstructive surgeon, and his team.
One of those treated for free was Archer Barda, 35, who underwent a twohour operation. The good doctor, Fong, extracted skin from the outer layer of Barda’s abdomen and patched it up on a part of the patient’s injured left leg.
Barda used to work as a driver of a 10wheeler truck. In 2010, a gas receptacle of the truck he was driving exploded, causing him to suffer from a third-degree burn. It scalded almost half of his left leg. The skin layers dried up and glued his upper and lower leg, impairing his ability to walk and work to make a living for himself and his three children.
“I thank the doctors for making my long trip from home worth it. I feel a lot better after the surgery,” said Barda, who traveled from Ormoc City as early as 4 in the morning last October 22 to seek treatment.
Li said the team from Tzu Chi Philippines brought high-end portable equipment from its clinic in Manila to operate on several cases of eyesight-related ailments such as cataract and pterygium.
He said that the mission served 153 patients, including Rito Quisado, 63, and his wife, Wilma.
"I can see! Thank you Tzu Chi! I can see again!" blurted out Rito. For the first time in three years, he could see his surroundings with clarity. He used to drive a tricycle for a living, managing to bring home some 500 daily. But following his eye condition, he stopped driving and depended on a small variety store which gave them some 300 daily income.
Rito’s wife, Wilma, who also developed cataracts in both eyes seven months ago, was also treated.
"We could never have afforded this kind of surgery for both of us if Tzu Chi did not come," said Wilma after her and her husband’s surgeries. " So this day really means so much to us because both of us can now see better,” she enthused.
About 350 volunteers assisted patients during the three-day medical mission. Among the volunteers were medical personnel from the Philippines and Singapore, volunteers and staff of Tzu Chi Foundation, and local volunteers from Tacloban City and Cebu.
Prior to the medical mission, Tzu Chi Foundation also conducted largescale distribution of rice in Tacloban City, Ormoc City, Palo and Tanauan between August and September. That activity benefited a total of 83,745 families with 20-kilo rice from Taiwan, said Li.
Tzu Chi Foundation was the first international group that provided cash for work and relief and cash assistance to survivors of super-typhoon Yolanda two years ago. The Foundation also helped rebuild the Sto. Niño Church here.