For six months, 74-year-old Remedios Arididon was burdened by constant body pains. It started after she took a fall and hurt her right leg. Several laboratory tests were run on her, but none yielded unusual results. Her doctor only advised Remedios to take painkillers, but after a while, the pain would return
“There are days when she would cry out from pain and we couldn’t do anything about it,” said Remedios’ daughter, Analisa Natividad.
Last month, Tzu Chi held its 216th medical mission at San Mateo National High School in Barangay Guitnang Bayan I in San Mateo, Rizal. The mission opened departments on general medicine, pediatrics, ophthalmology, dental, minor surgery, traditional Chinese medicine, and rehab medicine.
San Mateo Mayor Cristina Diaz also graced the mission and lauded Tzu Chi’s efforts.
“The poorest of the poor in San Mateo is around 15,000 people, so that’s why we felt blessed that a large scale medical mission like this happened for the first time here. It’s a good thing because the simple problems that the patients have will be diagnosed here and treated,” Mayor Diaz said.
A total of 2,215 patients benefitted from free medical consultation, treatment, and medicines. The mission was made possible through the efforts of 522 doctors, nurses, and Tzu Chi volunteers from the Philippines, Malaysia and Vietnam.
Arididon, a resident of Marikina City, was among the 214 patients who availed of the free services at the TCM department. An acupuncturist from Malaysia massaged and inserted thin needles on various parts of Remedios’ body for almost an hour. After the treatment, Remedios felt significant relief.
“Earlier, the pain I felt was so bad it was almost unbearable. But now, I feel much lighter; much better than earlier. I can still feel the pain here and there, but not as bad as it had been before we came here,” she said.
Acupuncture is a key component of Traditional Chinese Medicine. Based on the theory that energy, called chi, flows through and around our body and that illness occurs when something blocks or unbalances that energy, Acupuncture seeks to help the chi flow back into balance by putting very thin needles into our skin at certain points in our body.
Cupping therapy called Ventosa and Origin Point Medicine were also offered during the mission.
OPM practitioner Chun Hsing Mo explained that this alternative form of therapy boosts the body’s natural self healing power by putting pressure on the right points of the body. Like Acupuncture, it can heal almost all illnesses, diseases and disorders. Majority of the patients found instant relief after a session but continuous therapy is advised for more serious cases.
Joining the medical mission, Chun said he hoped to spread the knowledge of OPM to more poor Filipinos who suffer from different illnesses. Not only is OPM cheaper than Western Medicine, it can also be learned. In fact, Chun, a businessman by profession, learned the practice by undergoing classes in Taiwan.
“I want to go around as many barangays as possible and teach people on how origin point medicine can help not just yourself, but other people as well,” he said.
Meanwhile, at the minor surgery department, volunteer surgeons performed excisions for 153 patients. Marie Murchante was among the patients who found relief at the clinic. The 20-year-old patient had noticed a hard lump on her chest. When they heard about the medical mission, they went to have it checked.
Four benign cysts were removed from Marie’s breast. A bigger one calls for another surgery at a hospital setting. Dr. Robert Sy asked her to come to his clinic so they could proceed with the surgery, free of charge
All the initial fears were wiped out of the hearts of Marie and her mother, Marilou, when they went home that day.
“She won’t feel embarrassed anymore because lately she feels discouraged about her condition,” said Marilou.