The World Of Tzu Chi(Vol.116)

TZU CHI 116 39 W hen I was 16, I came across a scene on television depicting a group of doctors rendering their services in Africa. I came to learn that the doctors were part of an international organization called Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF, or Doctors Without Borders), whose members transcended national borders in their willingness to enter poverty-stricken areas and warzones to save lives. The selfless spirit of the doctors inspiredmy dreamof serving as a doctor in Africa one day. To achieve my ambition, I decided to leave my native Malaysia to further my studies in the UK after graduating from medical school. I was aware that general practitioners were in high demand in the MSF, but I had developed a strong interest in geriatrics (the branch of medicine focusing on the healthcare of the elderly) as a medical student. Hence, I was caught in a dilemma when choosing a specialty to progress in upon completing my housemanship tenure. Nevertheless, I remained loyal to my initial aspiration of serving the African nations and successfully gained admission to the Royal College of General Practitioners in the UK. After more than a decade, I am still pursuing my chosen path. My dream initially seemed distant, but thanks to Tzu Chi, I was granted the opportunity to realize my ambition sooner than expected. Bursting the bubble At a Tzu Chi event inTaiwan last November, I made acquaintance with Sister Denise Tsai, a senior volunteer who has been residing permanently in Mozambique. Upon learning from Sister Tsai that medical personnel and healthcare resources are severely lacking in Mozambique, I confided inMaster ChengYen my wish to relocate to Mozambique and serve the locals. I envisioned Practising medicine in Africa has been my dream as a medical student. But when facedwith harsh conditions and the worrying plight of malnourished children in rural villages, I was overwhelmed by my own feelings of apprehension when ideals that used to exist only in the imagination are replaced with harsh reality.