The World Of Tzu Chi March 2025 (Vol.153)

2025 • 03 34 ocal News Delivering Medical Relief to Refugees KL & Selangor I 01.12.2024 By Kong Siew Yen, Lim Ai Meng & Su Tu Suh Miin Photo by Ong Chew See O n December 1, 2024, Tzu Chi KL & Selangor held a medical outreach for refugees at the multipurpose hall in Bandar Puteri Puchong. Among those seeking help were a refugee from Myanmar, Kam Dom Thang, and his five-year-old son. The young boy’s hands and feet were covered in painful sores, robbing him of his bright, carefree smile. Despite multiple visits to private clinics, his condition continued to worsen. Kam Dom Thang was not only distressed about his son’s health but also struggling with a persistent toothache and the hardships of daily life. At the free clinic, doctors carefully cleaned and treated the child’s wounds, prescribing medication and vitamins to aid his recovery. Meanwhile, Kam Dom Thang received a much-needed dental filling, finally relieving his pain. He beamed with gratitude and expressed deep appreciation to the medical team and volunteers. In the Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) section, physician Tan Soh Kiat attended to Jamila, a Somali refugee, using acupuncture, gua sha, and therapeutic massage to improve blood circulation and ease her discomfort. After the treatment, she also prescribed herbal medicine to further aid Jamila’s recovery. Jamila suffered a fractured right arm from a workplace fall in 2020. Although she underwent surgery and initial physiotherapy, financial constraints forced her to discontinue treatment. She relied solely on painkillers, unable to raise her right arm or perform heavy physical work. This limited her to only two workdays per week, and even then, the severe pain affected her sleep and appetite. After the TCM treatment, she smiled with relief and told volunteers that the pain had significantly lessened. The clinic was made possible by the dedication of 183 medical professionals and Tzu Chi volunteers, who provided healthcare and compassion to more than 150 refugees in need. After a long pause due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Tzu Chi’s mobile clinics are back, bringing much- needed medical relief to refugees.