Tzu Chi Southern California hold free
clinic for migrant population of Bakersfield
(Translated by Wil Lin, Northern California)
Volunteers from the Tzu Chi Southern California
chapter held a free clinic for the large migrant population
of Bakersfield. There were over 1000 patients that day, breaking
the record for the number of patients treated at any Tzu Chi
free clinic. A doctor of Chinese medicine performed ac-cupressure
on a woman, and her pain, accumulated from long periods of work,
slowly disappeared. Another man's wounded arm had never received
proper medical attention until this free clinic. Every year,
during the farming season, large numbers of migrant workers
come to Bakersfield in search of jobs. Over 100 Tzu Chi volunteers,
along with volunteers from the local Hispanic cham-ber of commerce,
worked for the health of the migrant population.
The crowd poured into the free clinic. Doctors
of every specialization were so busy that they had no time for
lunch. However, the quality of care was not compromised. All
medical histories were carefully recorded, and all items in
the checkup were administered. The doctors saw 1000 patients
in one day, setting the record for Tzu Chi free clinics in the
United States.
