
A hundred medical professionals from the Tzu Chi International Medical Association (TIMA) and the local area and 222 Tzu Chi volunteers participated in the free clinic to provide medical services in internal medicine, pediatrics, ophthalmology, dentistry, and surgery. Local governmental officials, staff from the Adventist International Institute of Advanced Studies, nursing school students, and teachers and parents from the Silang Central Elementary School also volunteered their services.
A total of 2,132 people were treated for various medical conditions: 384 in internal medicine, 567 in pediatrics, 455 in ophthalmology (66 of whom went on to have surgery at the Tzu Chi free clinic center in Manila), 521 in dentistry, and 205 in surgery (72 of whom were sent to a hospital in Manila for operations).
Officials from the Silang government presented some bamboo banks full of coins to Tzu Chi volunteers. They had visited the Tzu Chi complex in Manila on May 12 and were impressed to learn about the charity work of the foundation. So they took back 60 bamboo banks on that day to save money for the needy.

There was another typical case of poverty preventing people from seeking medical help. Rafael Dimailig, 52, had had a tumor on his right shoulder for 15 years because he couldn’t afford an operation. His tumor was removed at the free clinic. “The free medical services you offer mean a lot to us,” said Dimailig. “We’re really grateful to Tzu Chi for providing us with free medicine and treatment.”
To thank the medical professionals for participating in the free clinic, Tzu Chi volunteers presented to each of them a blanket made from recycled PET bottles, a certificate of gratitude, and a DVD showing news clips of free clinics provided by TIMA.
Newer news items:
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Older news items:
- Malaysia - School Supply Distribution
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- Singapore - Free Medical Checkups