Written by: Grace Wang Photograph provided by: Lin Zhen-Cen
Deputy editor in chief Ms. Lin teaching the medical staff how to press acupuncture points.
The 3rd day of 2019 TIMA Annual Convention is the joyous lunar moon festival which is a national holiday in Taiwan where family members gather to celebrate. The 3rd speaker of the day was deputy editor in chief of Common Health Magazine Lin Zhen-Cen, sharing her experience coworking with Tzu Chi Foundation.
Ms. Lin started her lecture describing the current medical field situation in Taiwan, where the technology has never been so advanced yet, the relationship between doctors and patients have never been so tensed as well. From 2015 till February 2019, 13,903 surgeries using da Vinci Surgical system was reported to the national healthcare system; unfortunately, 7,810 cases were suspected not necessary or not meeting the standard requirement, wasting close to 355 million NT dollars. In April 2019, the director of Ministry of Health and Welfare even demanded the hospitals to return the money of unnecessary surgeries to the national health care system.
Unlike the harsh conditions in Taiwan, deputy editor in chief Ms. Lin saw a totally different medical scene in Jordan. Ms. Lin said, “When I went to Jordan to report Tzu Chi’s free clinic, I was absolutely amazed by what I saw there.” Due to the local culture, women are not allowed to be touched by men in public. A lady with body ache showed up at the free clinic but didn’t know how to get her treatment. The doctor realized the culture difference. He first used the language little notes that he prepared beforehand to communicate with the lady to build up trust, then he used a towel to wrap around her to avoid directly touching her body. After applying traditional oriental massage, she could raise her hand; a smile appeared on her face.
In another case, a little girl nicknamed Little Rose was in urgent conditions and the medical team acted quickly to operate on her. However, after returning to Taiwan and checking up her conditions, the doctors found Little Rose did not heal well after the operation. They asked thoroughly and found out it was due to the fact that the wound was not cleansed and sterilized properly and regularly. TIMA doctors did not give up. Thanks to modern technology, the doctors used online video-conferencing to teach local volunteers how to sterilize wounds step by step and apply on Little Rose and luckily she gradually recovered.
Not only did the TIMA doctors’ professionalism and kindness touched Ms. Lin, Tzu Chi’s ideology in practice really stunned her. Dharma Master Cheng Yen taught her disciples that the power to help others is not a privilege to the rich but everyone has the ability to help others. Ms. Lin saw in Jordan how little children who lost their parents, whom were sufferers, wore Tzu Chi’s volunteer vest and started helping and comforting others at the free clinic. The children had smiles on them and the scene fit with Master Cheng Yen’s Jing Si Aphorism that “those who give are more blessed than those who receive”.
Another example in Canada, Chinese Herbal acupuncture was used during TIMA free clinic. It was an efficient way to stop pain and help those that are aching. Unlike western medicine which requires extremely expensive equipment, acupuncture is a feasible and affordable way. Deputy editor in chief Ms. Lin said, “In Taiwan a combination of western and traditional Chinese medicine is commonly utilized in hospitals and well applied on patients. I really think that western societies can consider taking up this system.”
As doctors are always busy and tied up, as a closing for the session, Ms. Lin taught the professional medical staff gathering for the TIMA convention many useful acupuncture points, to help themselves easing stomachache or headache.
Doctor practicing oriental massage on lady over a towel.
The lady could finally raise her hand and a smile appeared on her face.
Little Rose receiving treatment from TIMA doctors.
Local little volunteers helping others at the free clinic.