California TIMA provides medical care
for Fresno agricultural area
(Translated by Peggy Lo, Northern California)
Around 45 Tzu Chi TIMA members and almost
50 volunteers from all over California gathered at the Fresno
Boys & Girl Scout's Club on August 19 to provide free
medical service to over 1,051 migrant workers. This was the
first major event to bring together California TIMA members
in different fields to provide their services in Fresno. On
the same day, over 300 families of farm workers applied to
receive "household-cleaning" packages and 130 residents
received free haircuts. All the participating volunteers had
one wish: if doctors in Fresno would be willing to take part,
then it might be possible to have regular free clinics in
Fresno.
This was the first time TIMA members came
to Fresno, and local residents were rather suspicious when
they first heard about it. But once they arrived to see a
row of doctors diagnosing patients, facilities to clean and
extract teeth and fill in cavities, along with a pharmacy,
they thought that the volunteers had been sent by God.
Monique Washington, 24, brought her month-old baby to the
clinic. "I never thought that there would be six dentists
serving a crowd of complete strangers. I thought I would just
come and pick up health brochures. I didn't expect to fix
my toothache by getting my cavities filled!"
The facilities for the free clinic were
divided into two parts: free haircuts and material goods were
on the left, and the actual clinic was on a basketball court
to the right. Forty-five medical personnel were split up to
provide their services in their respective specialties. The
Western medicine section included general practitioners, internal
medicine specialists, optometrists, dermatologists, pediatricians,
radiologists, gastroenterologists and gynecologists. The Chinese
medicine section included acupuncture and acupressure. In
the dentistry section, aside from the Great Love Mobile Clinic,
there were a record-breaking six units of mobile dentistry
equipment, which could clean teeth, fill in cavities, and
extract teeth.
The eight nurses in charge of the initial
screening of blood sugar and cholesterol were so busy that
they had to take turns to drink water and eat. A nurse from
the Northern California TIMA said frankly, "Today was
exhausting, but it was also very rewarding." In front
of their eyes stood a long line of patients of various ethnic
backgrounds, patiently moving forward one by one. Tzu Cheng
Faith Corps volunteers set up chairs in front of each station
so that visitors wouldn't get too tired while they waited.
When there weren't enough chairs, they rushed to bring more
from a local school. The temperature went up to 105 degrees
Fahrenheit, and the volunteers were so hot that they could
squeeze a bucket of sweat out of their shirts!
Dr. Kuo Chen-tang, a family doctor from
Fresno participating in a free clinic for the first time,
really admired the way that Tzu Chi doctors gave treatments
and medicine without asking for anything in return. He remarked
that he would be willing to participate in any future free
clinic activities. Dr. Kuo has been practicing in Fresno for
quite a while. He had hear about Tzu Chi's compassion and
the foundation's ability to mobilize volunteers. This was
the first time he had had the chance to personally experience
a free clinic and see the Tzu Chi people in action. From watching
them, he deeply felt that to give is truly better than to
receive.
Dr. Jeff Huang, a dentist who understands
little Chinese, just began practicing in Fresno not too long
ago. Having no less compassion than anyone else, he volunteered
to provide his services to a patient who needed follow-up
after the initial treatment.
William Soares, a volunteer at the pharmacy,
also participated for the first in a free clinic. Tzu Chi's
comprehensive evaluation of and ability to provide for their
patients' needs amazed him. "The residents of this community
are so fortunate to have a group of people from a different
ethnic background who will proactively come and care for them.
Their actions are motivated by their respect for life and
their belief that everyone is equal. Unless you were here,
it's so hard to describe that feeling! I'm very glad that
I could come volunteer today."
The Chinese medicine section fully utilized
four tents flown here from Indonesia. The tents provided patients
with privacy while they received treatment.
Local media-including ABC, CBS, NBC, and
a Spanish channel-sent reporters here to cover the clinic.
All the reporters had the same feeling: "After covering
so many community free clinics, this is the first time we've
seen a group that's truly provided free medical service."
When an eleven-year-old boy named Jose saw an anchorperson
for the local ABC affiliate, he asked for her autograph, but
she said, "You and I, we're the same. Those strangers
who are quietly giving so much of themselves to total strangers,
those are the anonymous heroes you should learn from!"
In the haircut section, the hands of the
four volunteers never stopped moving, cutting away people's
worries as they styled their hair. Over 130 people rejoiced
as if it were a holiday. After their haircuts and while waiting
for their turn at the clinic, they were given clean donated
clothing. Volunteers measured the clothes against the residents
to make sure they fit, and then packaged them for the people
to take home. Aside from that, there were 300 packages of
daily necessities for some families to take home. School-aged
children also received a set of school supplies.
Maria, 28, and her family of five hadn't
seen a doctor in three years. Every time they got sick, they
just had to wait to get well naturally. This time they had
the chance to get a checkup and have their teeth cleaned,
and they received a package of daily necessities to take home
with them. Maria said, "At least my family is healthy,
and when we move to the next city to work we will feel better
knowing that."
Cruz M. Bustamante, lieutenant governor
of California, sent a representative that afternoon to visit
the free clinic and to praise and thank the volunteers. He
also presented a certificate saying, "The Tzu Chi Free
Clinic has broken the barriers of race and religion to provide
medical services to the low-income community. Their spirit
of giving freely should serve as a model in the Central Valley
and usher in a new trend of health care. This deeply felt
influence will leave its mark in history."
There were 15 scouts from the local Boy
and Girl Scouts who provided translation and helped to clean
up the area. They all felt that it was a very worthwhile way
to spend their Sunday.
Dr. Chen Chen-chung, a pediatrician in Fresno,
had also participated in previous clinics in Bakersfield,
Delano and McFarland. He suggested, "Tzu Chi can also
go to nearby villages to serve farm workers who lack transportation
to come to the clinic. That would be a great step forward.
And if you decide to do so, please remember to let me know."
With volunteers from all over California,
this free clinic awakened the strong feeling that Tzu Chi
is truly a big family, especially in the way everyone worked
together. Everyone strongly agreed that this area really needed
a free clinic. Medical personnel here feel that if the Great
Love Mobile Clinic comes around one or two more times to share
this experience with others, then it will be possible to have
a regular Tzu Chi Clinic some day.
