Overseas Free Clinic

The core spirit of free clinic lies in “respecting lives”. By building a medical network, in allowing every life which is afflicted with an illness to receive immediate help and care.  A medical mission aims to achieve this by providing medical aid to regions which lack medical facilities and resources, and by building a help network across the globe.  Tzu Chi Singapore Branch held its first medical mission in the neighbouring island of Batam in the year 2000.  With the support of TIMA medical personnel and its volunteers, the Singapore Branch managed to hold 12 overseas free clinics by end 2006.  More than 21,799 patients have benefited from these medical missions.   

Medical Assistance

True to the philosophy of respecting lives, Tzu Chi volunteers make use of every opportunity to give those who are sick a ray of hope in life.  In recent years, there have been many medical cases which had come to the Singapore Branch’s attention through a number of different means – through medical missions, information received from other organisations, and the media.  Some cases included that of Novemthree, the world’s youngest patient who had a huge tumour in his facial region known as gigantiform cementoma, the Phua siblings in Yishun who suffered from Hallervorden Spatz Syndrome which affects one’s central nerve system; Dedy, a youth diagnosed with Primary Lymphoedema which resulted in his bloated leg, and so on.  These patients were sometimes transferred to the care of Tzu Chi Malacca Branch, and some even received treatment from the medical team in Taiwan.  They benefited greatly from Tzu Chi’s help, as the organisation’s medical teams around the world often worked together – supporting and sharing resources with one another, thus enabling them to give help to more and more cases which require their medical attention. This has not only allowed Tzu Chi to fulfil their hope of sending love to all corners of the world, but also allowed Singapore’s medical mission to transcend all international boundaries.

Dialysis Assistance Programme

Dialysis is most frequently used for patients who have kidney failure until a kidney transplant could be done. Initiated in February 2005, the Dialysis Assistance Programme provides financial assistance to kidney failure patients who cannot afford to pay for their dialysis treatment, regardless of nationality, race and religion.  As long as a patient is unable to finance his / her dialysis treatment, he / she is able to apply for Tzu Chi’s assistance through any hospital social worker or dialysis centres.  Tzu Chi offers both long and short term assistance plans:

Short term assistance plan:

This is applicable to patients who are currently applying for assistance from Voluntary Welfare Organisations (VWOs).  The processing period for an application usually lasts between 2 weeks to 3 months. Pending the approval from the VWOs, Tzu Chi provide assistance for the patient to undergo treatment with private dialysis centres.

Long term assistance plan:

This is applicable to patients who, due to complicated medical conditions, are not able to gain assistance from VWOs.  Such patients usually have to undergo long term treatments with private dialysis centres.

Home visit volunteers and members of TIMA take meticulous care of the dialysis patients by conducting monthly visits to their homes. They too provide information on health care and medical treatment for their conditions.  In doing so, they look after not only the patients’ physical health, but of their mind and soul as well.

Up to November 2006, Tzu Chi has 49 dialysis assistance cases under its care.  Integrating charity with medical treatment, the Tzu Chi spirit was put to practice whilst taking the first step towards the implementation of its assistance programme.

Hospital Volunteers

To many, the concrete, glass and steel structure of the hospital can seem cold and uninviting. Hospital volunteers thus play a vital role in creating a comfortable, nurturing care environment for the patients.  Moving from ward to ward, Tzu Chi volunteers help the patients with washing and trimming their hair, as well as putting up sign language and singing performance to help shed their fear and forget about the pain and suffering temporarily.  In many of the hospital volunteer programmes, volunteers need to undergo some form of training before they begin working in the hospitals, which includes courses in psychology, basic care, and so on, so as to provide the patients with well-rounded care and help.

Members of the Singapore Branch have been volunteering at Kwong Wai Shiu Hospital since 1991. In November 2003, Tzu Chi directed some of its charity focus to the Institute of Mental Health located at Buangkok Green in the Hougang area.  Love and concern is shown to the residents to help provide some release for their otherwise trapped and depressed souls.  A third hospital which supports Tzu Chi’s hospital volunteer programme is the Children’s Cancer ward in the National University Hospital.  Tzu Chi volunteers form the software of the Supervised Play Programme developed by the Children’s Cancer Foundation (CCF), as they aid in healing the heart and soul of those children afflicted with cancer, empathising with them, and respecting the importance of their lives.   

Community Health Screenings

In showing its concern for the public’s general well-being, Tzu Chi organizes health checks and seminars for the community from time to time.  The health checks conducted are quite thorough, which include tests on blood sugar levels, cholesterol, blood pressure, pulse check, body temperature, height and weight measurement, urine test and so on.  At the same time, information counters for both western and Chinese medicine are also available for the public to consult on their health condition.

Blood Donation Drives

Tzu Chi Singapore Branch has been collaborating with the Red Cross Society since June 2003 in organising blood donation drive, which is held four times a year.  The Foundation was commended by the Red Cross Society for the role it had played in organising the event and was nominated in 2005 as one of the nation’s most active organisers.  The blood donation drive is a nation-wide event, and is supported and participated by the wide public.  Some blood donors have even gone on to volunteer with Tzu Chi, thus continuing with the foundation’s work in bringing love to the society.  As of December 2006, the Foundation has conducted 15 blood donation exercises.

Home Visits

Members of TIMA make use of holidays they have to provide consultation services to the elderly people who live alone in the Chinatown area and who have difficulty moving around.  The volunteers make home visits to their place of residence so that these seniors need not travel too far to seek medical help.  In addition to providing consultation services, members of TIMA also educate the elderly on personal hygiene.  The service and dedication shown by the volunteers have touched the elderly very deeply.

Health Talks

To promote the awareness on “prevention is better than cure”, TIMA holds health talks for the public from time to time to disseminate medical knowledge as well as giving back to the public who has been so supportive of Tzu Chi’s work, , and showing its concern for the public’s general well-being.