Dalin Tzu Chi Hospital's Voluntary Support
in Progress
Victim's DNA Matching
Reported by Yu Chien-hsing
(Translated by Stanley Peng, Northern California)
Typhoon Toraji caused devastating damage in
central Taiwan. Besides emergency rescue, the general medical
condition of victims also requires immediate attention. The
Dalin Tzu Chi Hospital medical teams to Hsinyi, Nantou, especially
to perform DNA matching in the hope of recovering missing loved
ones. Hospital vice superintendent Chien Shou-hsin expressed
his hope of providing practical assistance for disaster victims,
so that they might feel the warmth of society and not give up
hope.
Although Typhoon Toraji has long gone, the
damage that it brought to the land has just begun. The situation
in many areas is still unknown and hundreds remain missing.
At the same time that the Tzu Chi Foundation is carrying out
rescue work, it is also consoling survivors in the disaster
areas. Volunteers are providing material aid, hot meals, and
cleanup assistance, and Tzu Chi Hospital is also providing medical
service to disaster victims.
Despite remote distances and damaged roads,
Dr. Chien led a medical team to provide free clinical services.
The team was distributed to several stations around Nantou County,
according to evaluations by local government authorities and
Tzu Chi commissioners. For the last week, medical teams have
been stationed at Ruitien, Fenghuang, and Ruifeng middle schools
in Luku Village. By the afternoon of August 5, the medical team
arrived at the severely damaged area of Hsinyi Village and began
service at the Chaposhih Church in Renho Village.
In this village, whose residents mostly belong
to the Chaposhih group of the Bunung tribe, children suffered
from the cold and flu. Dr. Chien carefully checked the children
and reminded their parents to provide sufficient nutrition.
Four houses were totally damaged and five or six houses were
partially damaged. Fortunately there were no fatal accidents
in all the destruction. The village's main water pipe was broken
and a temporary water source had to be supplied. Tzu Chi volunteers
played their best role as listeners as they comforted villagers
after the traumatic experience.
Dr. Chien remarked that a free medical clinic
will be considered for any reachable destination. Other than
central Taiwan, areas on Ali Mountain are also of concern and
medical support will be given if necessary. Since there are
very few hospitals in central Taiwan that perform DNA checking,
Tzu Chi hospital has taken DNA samples from bodies and performed
tests to confirm their identity. Area victims can request DNA
sampling through the Department of Health. Tzu Chi hospital
is always standing by to take any request in the hope of doing
a little more for the disaster victims.
Dr. Chien also pointed out that the free clinics
cannot be carried out with only the enthusiasm of a few individuals;
they also require the cooperation of the government and local
citizens. In this way, everyone's love can be activated to give
the survivors more support in the midst of their misery and
fatigue, so that they can feel the warmth of humanity and the
strength to stand on their own feet again.
