August 29, 2001

Chinese Version

Free Health Care in Central California
Reported by Yuann Ling Chang

On August 19, volunteers from Los Angeles, San Jose and the local Fresno area joined together to hold the first free health clinic in Fresno, an agricultural city located in central California. Their efforts were very successful.

The Fresno clinic, which was held at a Boys and Girls club, drew more than a thousand adults and children for examinations, acupuncture, prescriptions, and dental cleaning. By nine that morning, people were lined up, waiting to see a doctor. Thirty medical professionals and over 140 volunteers donated their time and love to the needy. In addition to free health services, clothes collected by volunteers in Modesto were donated to patients, local barbers provided free haircuts, and hundreds of bags containing laundry detergent, shampoo, pasta and beans were given away. These provisions were funded by the Tzu Chi Northern California Chapter.

The local affiliates of ABC, NBC, CBS, and FOX all sent reporters and cameramen to cover this event. The Fresno Bee, the largest local newspaper, also wrote two outstanding articles. The article which was published before the health clinic helped to recruit Spanish translators and publicize the event, so that the local Tzu Chi contacts received many inquiries about the health clinic. The article that was printed after the clinic summarized the positive feelings of the patients, organizers, and health professionals involved.

State officials recognized the efforts involved in conducting the health clinic. The Department of Health in Sacramento offered to help screen patients, and a representative of Lieutenant Governor Cruz Bustamante delivered a certificate of appreciation for the Tzu Chi free clinic.

This is the biggest project for the Fresno office since their inception in 1994. Twenty medical professionals were from the local area. Organizers hope the clinic will become an annual event and eventually lead to a regular free clinic in Fresno.