Clinic Established Among People
CENGKARNG, Indonesia - This
year, Tzu Chi's free clinic in Indonesia helped provide free
medical service to people from all over Indonesia; people
who ordinarily would not have been able to afford hospital
treatment. The clinic, which specializes in ophthalmology,
has helped save the eyesight of many, and people
near and far have now heard of Tzu Chi's clinic events. In
fact, Tzu Chi's regularly held clinics have helped Tzu Chi
establish a relationship with many patients in Indonesia,
many of whom return to the visiting clinics as if it is a
regular hospital.
On May 28th, local Tzu Chi volunteers in
Indonesia held the 27th free clinic at Tzu Chi's Great Love
Village in Cengkarng. Patients came from all over, including
Jakarta, Serang, Bandung, and Lampung. Volunteer Asih is also
from Lampung and she explained that the people there are quite
familiar with Tzu Chi's free clinic events.
Asih expressed, "We have volunteers
from everywhere. Ever since we learned about Tzu Chi in 2003,
volunteers have been accompanying patients to Jakarta for
medical treatment. Sometimes from places even farther than
Jakarta."
There were roughly 30 doctors and nurses
providing medical service in this clinic, and 60 volunteers
to help patients. Their charitable work helped over 130 people
receive medical help that day, most of whom were the elderly.
Mrs. Leos comes from Serang, where she
lives with her financially destitute family. A few years ago,
she began to lose her vision. Unable to afford hospital treatment,
she went to a traditional healer instead, but the treatment
was not successful. Fortunately, the arrival of the free clinic
gave Mrs. Leos an opportunity for a cure. Doctors diagnosed
Mrs. Leos with cataracts and arranged for her to receive surgery
from the medical team. Ten months ago, Mrs. Leos received
surgery from Tzu Chi doctors for her left eye. Now, she will
have an operation again; this time for her right eye. Mrs.
Leos eagerly anticipates recovering her eyesight so she could
return to her normal activities in life as well as reading
the Koran again and practicing religious rituals.
Sofyan is going through a physical exam.
He met Tzu Chi volunteers last year in Indonesia. Back then,
Sofyan suffered from Fibrous Dysplasia, which caused a large
tumor to grow inside of his right eye that pushed his eyeball
outwards. When TIMA members came upon Sofyan's case back in
February 2004, Superintendent Lin Hsing-rong from Hualien
Tzu Chi Medical Center, treated Sofyan personally and suggested
an immediate surgery.
Tzu Chi Volunteers immediately began fundraising
for Sofyan and were able to send him to Taiwan in May 2004.
The operation and recovery were a success and Sofyan returned
to Indonesia in October that year. He now lives in Tzu Chi's
Great Love Village and attends the Tzu Chi school there, where
he is a model student. Unfortunately, Sofyan's eyesight has
been worsening. To keep up with his studies, he must learn
through listening to lessons. Many people in school offer
to assist Sofyan with help in class and often teachers and
students would read things aloud for him. At home, Sofyan's
father reads aloud for him as well.
Tzu Chi volunteers have arranged a preliminary examination
for Sofyan's eyes in Indonesia. In June, volunteers will accompany
him for another trip to Taiwan for the treatment.
Sofyan expressed "I have to admit
that I have fears. But everyone is treating me well and are
trying to bring back my health. I can't do anything else but
pray." After the examination, Sofyan and Tzu Chi volunteers
visited Mulyana, another patient being treated in the hospital.
Sofyan shared his experience with Mulyana and encouraged him
that things would work out fine.
Sofyan wants to become a doctor one day.
He hopes that as a physician, he can help many people, just
as his own life was changed with the help of charitable doctors.
